Emergency works are due to begin on Monday morning (9 November) to repair a gas pipeline which runs underneath Liverpool Road, Eccles.
Cadent, which manages the local gas network, received a report of a smell of gas in the area.
Investigations have confirmed the source as a pipeline which runs under the road, close to the roundabout at junction 11 of the M60.
The gas network has taken emergency actions to ensure the safety of nearby properties and its engineers are carrying out regular monitoring at the location.
Cadent now needs to expose the pipeline and carry out a repair.
It will start at 8am on Monday, involving the closure of one of three lanes in Liverpool Road, with associated traffic management on the roundabout.
Leaving two lanes open allows space for traffic to continue to travel, in both directions. The reduction in lanes, on a busy road, will lead to increased congestion in the area.
Gas will remain ON during the activity; there should be no impact to gas supplies.
Cadent teams will work between 8am and 9pm each day to complete the repair as quickly and safely as possible. As some of the work will inevitably be noisy, it will pause activity overnight, between 9pm and 8am, in consideration of people living close to the work site.
Stuart Millett, Customer Operations Area Manager, Cadent, said: These are essential works, to keep everyone safe and to keep gas flowing into local homes and other buildings.
Once we have gained access to the pipe, we can assess the nature of repair needed and we will have a clearer understanding with regards to how long this will take to complete – at this stage, we expect it will take several days.
This is a busy area and, while we have agreed a traffic plan that keeps all roads open, we wanted to ensure people had advance notice that there will be added congestion.
If you smell gas, act immediately and call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999*. Do not assume it is related to this incident – it may not be and needs to be checked.
Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy. We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change. Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency. Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing.
Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.
Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*
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