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Urgent gas roadworks in Fulwood, Ingol and Cottam begin

Posted on - 22nd October, 2021 - 9:54am | Author - | Posted in - Cottam, Fulwood, Ingol, Preston News, Roads, Transport
Preston’s gas network is being boosted

A major project to boost Preston’s gas network and remove concerns about gas supply to thousands of homes started this week (week beginning October 18).

Significant recent development in areas north of the city, around the Fulwood, Ingol and Cottam areas, has put a huge strain on existing gas infrastructure.

Cadent, which manages Lancashire’s gas distribution network, has flagged that this continued, fast growth is now putting ongoing reliable supply at risk.

With more than 83 per cent of homes using gas for central heating, it needs to act.

Read more: Fulwood school to receive new sports facilities as flood defence work gets underway

Cadent will invest £500,000 to install 1,200 metres of new pipes, and associated assets, through a four-phase scheme set to run into early 2022.

This involves working mostly in Lightfoot Lane and Tom Benson Way.

Cadent has worked with Lancashire County Council’s highways team on a scheme that gets the work done safely and keeps roads open both ways, with traffic lights.

Gas will continue to flow during the work (supply should not be impacted).

Details of the scheme

Phase 1, started October 18 2021 (for around two weeks)

Work is taking place near the roundabout where Tanterton Hall Road, Tag Lane and Tom Benson Way meet. There will be minimal carriageway incursion during this first phase and traffic will continue to flow in all directions.

Phase 2: during the October half-term holidays

Specialist teams and machinery will drill 100 metres directly under the roundabout at Lightfoot Lane, just after Preston Grasshoppers’ ground (heading towards Preston).

This method ensures the road stays open, but with traffic lights to manage the flow of vehicles. Please budget for queuing traffic.

Read more: Preston children on free school meals to receive vouchers over half-term

Phase 3: starting November 1 (for around a week)

This involves the installation of 100 metres of new pipes under a section of Lightfoot Lane, near the junction with The Maples. This will again be done with traffic lights in place, to manage traffic around the work area. Please budget for queuing traffic.

Phase 4: starting around November 8, to January/February 2022

More than 1,000 metres of new pipes will be put under Lightfoot Lane and Tom Benson Way. Teams will work in short segments – reinstating the road surface as soon as they have completed each segment. There will be lights to manage the safe flow of vehicles around the work area. Please budget for queuing traffic.

The engineers will work seven days a week on the project, while advice will be taken from environmental health officials with regards to hours of work – given there are residential developments nearby and the work (at times) will be noisy.

Craig Horrocks, Head of Investment Planning Office (North West), Cadent, said: “This essential and necessary work, to keep people warm in their homes. 

“We hope you understand we are doing everything we can to complete the work as fast but as safely as possible, using techniques – such as drilling under the roundabout – that enables traffic to continue to flow, albeit with traffic lights in place.

“We’re liaising with organisations in the area, to try and avoid clashes with events where we can. For example, we’re working with Preston Grasshoppers to aim to be off-site – with no traffic lights – when its bonfire night event takes place there. At the request of the local authority, we also plan to stand-down for a couple of weeks during the build-up to Christmas.”

If you smell gas during this work, nearby or anywhere, always ring the national gas emergency service immediately, day or night, on 0800 111 999*. Do not delay, or assume it’s related to this work. It may not be and must be checked.

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