The north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £182,000 to upgrade the ageing gas distribution network in Huddersfield Road, Skelmanthorpe.

The major project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and will involve replacing 1.7km of existing metal gas mains with more durable plastic pipes to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area for years to come.

The project, which begins on Monday 30 May and will last approximately 15 weeks, has been planned in conjunction with Kirklees Council to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption to customers as possible.

The project will be carried out in three phases.

Phase One will start the week beginning 30 May, beginning on Commercial Road at the four-way junction of Windmill Crescent, Highbridge Lane and Busker Lane, lasting around five weeks.

Phase two will take place from the week beginning 4 July on Lodge Street, Elm Street and Croft Head, lasting around five weeks.

The third and final phase of the project will commence the week of 9 August, on Manor Drive and Smithy Lane and will also last approximately five weeks.

A number of other streets will also be affected, the order of works is expected to run as follows: Huddersfield Road, Busker Lane, Chapel Close, Commercial Road, Croft Head, Elm Street, Lodge Street, Manor Drive, New Lane, Smithy Close, Smithy Lane, Thorpes Crescent.

In order to complete the works as safely and efficiently as possible, traffic management measures will be in place throughout the scheme.  Four-way temporary traffic lights will be in place on Commercial Road at the junction of Windmill Crescent, Highbridge Lane and Busker Lane for around one week from 30 May.

This will then change to two–way traffic signals on Commercial Road for a further five weeks.

A road closure will be introduced on New Lane at the junction of Commercial Lane for two weeks from 13 June, which will change to two-way traffic lights for a further three weeks.

As Commercial Road is a bus route it is expected there will be some delays to bus services, which will need to follow an alternative route whilst the road closure is in place.

A footpath closure will also be in place on the Windmill Crescent side of 180 Commercial Road from 6 June for approximately two weeks, however pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

NGN engineers will be working on site Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.

Paul Jagger, Construction Services Area Manager Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Kirklees Council to plan these works and minimise any disruption to customers.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused, and thank our customers for their patience and support in getting these works completed as quickly as possible.”

For further information about the project please contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766, option 7 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

ENDS

About Northern Gas Networks

Northern Gas Networks own all the gas mains in the North East, most of Yorkshire and northern Cumbria transporting gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses.

The network consists of 37,000km of gas mains, enough to stretch from Leeds to Sydney, Australia and back.

Our mains replacement programme will see 3,800km of old metal gas main replaced with modern plastic equivalents by 2021.

For more information please visit our website www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk

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You can contact Northern Gas Network’s press office on: 0113 3227950 during office hours (between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday – Friday, excluding Bank Holidays) or call the out of hours service on 0113 3227978 at any other time.

You can contact the Northern Gas Networks Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766, option 7. The team is available between 8am and 10pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturday.