Durham City Centre

Durham City Centre

Phase 1 - Saddler Street up to the junction with Owengate.
Phase 2 - Owengate to Bow Lane.

Project to replace metallic gas pipe with polyethylene pipe.
The work, lasting approximately six weeks, will start on 13th September with United Utilities and Balfour Beatty working on behalf of Northern Gas Networks. The project will take place in stages to help reduce inconvenience to people who live and work in the area. These phases have been carefully planned by our engineers after consultation with a number of local organisations including Carillion who are working on a major project to repave the city.

The work will involve replacing old metal gas pipes with modern plastic ones which are safer and more reliable. This is part of an £62m programme of gas mains improvements across the North East and Yorkshire.

To minimise disruption to the people of Durham City, the gas mains renewal programme has been carefully planned to coincide with a £5.25m project by Durham City Vision with contractor Carillion to repave the city’s streets and pathways. By working together, it is anticipated that the total amount of time that Durham’s streets need to be excavated will be greatly reduced.

The gas work will be carried out in two phases. Phase one will see work carried out in Saddler Street up to the junction of Owengate. This will take place between 13th and 19th September.
Phase two will involve excavating from Owengate to Bow Lane.

During the gas works on Saddler Street, the road will be closed from 6.00am to approximately 11.00pm, however; there will be planned daily access for commercial vehicles over three tonnes laden weight only, to and through Saddler Street between 6.00am and 10.00am each day so that deliveries and collections to businesses and shops can be maintained. Vehicles of less than three tonnes requiring access to North Bailey, South Bailey and Owengate will need to use an alternative authorised route via Quarryheads Lane and the Prebends Bridge. This route will be controlled with height and width barriers to prevent oversized vehicles using it. Traffic lights and barriers will control the single lane over Prebends Bridge to ensure that only one vehicle at a time uses the bridge. Traffic control may also be used on the single lane sections of South Bailey. Delays are anticipated at peak times so alternative routes and transport arrangements should be considered to avoid the use of Prebends Bridge.

For the duration of the gas and paving projects, Durham Chorister School will be extending their morning ‘Walking Bus’ system to include three locations where pupils can be dropped off safely and conveniently by parents. School staff will collect pupils at Prebends Bridge, Kingsgate Bridge and Walkergate. After school there will be two walking buses to Prebends Bridge and pupils may also be collected from school.

Northern Gas Networks apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents while these essential gas works are carried out. A customer liaison officer will visit the works regularly to discuss the improvements with residents and traders.

In total, almost 3.0 km of old metal mains will be replaced within Durham representing an investment of £440,000. Once again, Northern Gas Networks apologise for any inconvenience caused to motorists, tourists, residents and businesses.