Work to replace 800m of ageing gas pipes begins

Work has begun to replace 800m (2,625ft) of ageing gas pipes in Sheffield.

The project, which is expected to take about 20 weeks, will see upgrades to the 75-year-old network in the Crookes area.

To minimise disruption, the work will be carried out in phases with some road closures in place.

Richard Sansom, East Midlands network director for distributor Cadent, said: "It is essential that we replace them [gas pipes] to future-proof our network and minimise the amount of repair work that we have to do in the area over the coming years."

Cadent, which manages the local gas network, said the new pipework would also allow the introduction of more environmentally friendly gases, like biomethane.

Only one road would be closed at a time and each phase was expected to take about two weeks to complete, the company said.

Sansom said: "These works form part of Cadent's major £100m investment programme across our Eastern network, funding vital upgrades in communities such as Sheffield and helping to secure the gas network for generations to come."

He said the firm understood the "inconvenience and frustration" to residents and road users the work could cause.

Manually controlled traffic lights will be in place between 9:30 and 15:30 BST, but some stages of the project may be carried out during evenings and weekends.

• Phase One will see two-way traffic lights and parking restrictions between St Luke's Hospice and the junction with Marston Road. The junctions of Springvale Road, Toyne Street and Marston Road with Crookes will be closed.
• Phase Two will see two-way traffic lights and parking restrictions between Marston Road and the junction with School Road. The junctions of Sackville Road and School Road with Crookes will be shut.
• Phase Three will see two-way traffic lights and parking restrictions between School Road and the junction with Coombe Road. The junctions of School Lane and Coombe Road with Crookes will be closed.
• Phase Four will see three-way traffic lights between Crookes Road and Lydgate Lane as well as parking restrictions.

Sansom urged residents to allow for extra time in their journeys and said engineers would try to carry out the works as "swiftly, but as safely" as possible.

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