Major Gas Works Announced for Sowerby Bridge

Homes and businesses in Sowerby Bridge will soon start to benefit from a £200,000 upgrade to their gas supplies thanks to Northern Gas Networks.

The mains improvement project began on June 15th with major works commencing on July 20th. The scheme is expected to take 12-weeks to complete.

A public information evening will be held at Sowerby Bridge Cricket Club, Walton Street on Wednesday the 1st of July between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. The evening will be run as a drop-in session to give local people the opportunity to discuss the project with engineers. Representatives from United Utilities will also be running an information stall at Tesco supermarket on Sowerby Street throughout the day on the 1st of July.

The project will see 1.5km of old metal mains replaced with modern plastic pipe to ensure the safety and reliability of gas supplies in the area for decades to come. Work will be carried out on sections of Victoria Road, Walton Street, West Street and Sowerby Street.

It will be necessary to put temporary traffic lights on West Street from the junction with Walton Street to the junction with Watson Mill Lane. The lights will be moved along this stretch of road as the work progresses. They will be manned between the hours of 9-5 to help keep traffic flowing.

When engineers are working under the bridge on West Street it will be necessary to suspend the pedestrian crossing. A guard will be on duty between the hours of 9am-5pm to help people safely across the road.

Traffic will be unable to access West Street from Victoria Road while work is carried out in this area. A diversion route via Station Road and Norland Road will be in operation.

There will be no access to Sowerby Street from West Street, drivers will need to use Foundry Street instead which will become one-way while the diversion is in place.

Engineers will work extended hours whenever possible Monday through to Friday and there is scope for work to be carried out at the weekends to further help minimise disruption.

Northern Gas Networks and United Utilities apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents while these essential gas works are carried out.

Northern Gas Networks’ Director Chris Gorman said: “We will do everything we can to minimise any disruption. This year, Northern Gas Networks will invest £82 million renewing gas mains to ensure that our system remains one of the safest in the world. The good news is that we will be using modern technology where possible to reduce the number of excavations we need to complete the work and our new plastic pipes are more durable and flexible and have a lifespan of at least 80 years.”