Ageing Cambridge gas pipes set for much needed upgrade

• Essential work in Cambridge will help keep residents connected to safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating.
• The scheme involves replacing more than 3,500 metres of ageing gas mains with traffic management in place throughout.
• Work expected to be completed by Friday 28 August.

Gas pipes buried deep under roads in Cambridge are due to be replaced by engineers from Cadent – the UKs largest gas distribution network.

The project in Campkin Road and Hawkins Road will see 3,526 metres of gas main pipelines being replaced with tough new pipes which will last for decades, future-proofing the local network.

Work gets underway on Monday 15 June, but residents and business owners in the area are invited to attend a public event to learn more about these essential gas works taking place. The event will give everyone the opportunity to learn more about the necessity for the project and how the work will affect everyone on a day-to-day basis.

Between 10am and 12pm on Thursday 18 June, customer teams from Cadent will have a gazebo set up on the grass verge at the junction of St Kilda’s Avenue and Beales Way, Cambridge, CB4 2QB, for people to call at and learn more about the project.

There is no need to book an appointment, just turn up and speak to the team.

Following consultation with Cambridgeshire County Council, Cadent has agreed to carry out these essential works over an 11-week period from Monday 15 June until Friday 28 August meaning a large part of the work takes place during the school summer holidays.

Due to the location of the gas main and to ensure the safety of engineers, the work taking place will be carried out in phases and will involve a rolling road closure. When there is a road closure, a diversion route will be clearly signposted.

Access will remain for residents within the work zone.

Eleanor Buxton, Head of Work Management at Cadent, said: “The metallic pipes that are in place in this section of the network, have been very well used over the years. It’s now time for them to be replaced so that we can continue to deliver gas to peoples' homes 24/7, 365 days a year.

“In this part of Cambridge, more than 85 per cent of homes have gas central heating. Upgrading these pipelines will ensure we can continue to distribute gas safely to them, for many decades to come.

“These upgrades also have big environmental gains, as they reduce methane emissions and enable a move to more renewable gases like biomethane. This is essential for a cleaner future – the UK will need energy to come from a range of sources to meet demand and be sustainable.

“We have worked with the local highways team, as well as local authorities, to create a traffic management plan that will minimise disruption whilst we carry out these essential works.

I thank everybody for their patience as we take the measures needed to ensure our engineers can carry out these works as safely and as efficiently as possible.

Gas stays ON for the duration of the works. The only interruption to supply will be to properties that take a direct feed from the pipes being replaced (in the immediate local area). Supply to these properties will be disconnected for a short while (it will be back on the same day it goes off), as the property gets connected into the new pipe. Advance notice will be given, and more information will be provided to these properties.

If you smell gas, always ring the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999*, day or night. Do not assume it is related to these works; it may not be and needs to be checked.