The north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £205,000 to upgrade the ageing metal gas distribution network in and around Hungate, Pickering.

The major project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and will involve replacing nearly 700m 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 will begin on Monday 23 January and last approximately 12 weeks with an estimated completion date of 14 April, has been planned in conjunction with North  Yorkshire County Council Highways to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption to customers as possible.

Work will be carried out in two phases.

Phase One will begin on Hungate on Monday 23 January and last around five weeks.

During this phase there will be a lane closure introduced directly on Hungate from Monday 23 January for five weeks.  This closure will allow motorists to travel towards Southgate from Hungate but access in the opposite direction will not be available.

Traffic travelling from Southgate will be diverted via The Ropery, Market Place, Birdgate and Smiddy Hill back to the roundabout at Eastgate.

There will be a separate diversion route in place for HGVs which will lead to the A64 and back round.

Phase Two will begin on Monday 27 February and last around seven weeks. During this phase there will be four-way temporary traffic lights in place from the junction of Hungate and Southgate for around two weeks.

These will then be replaced by two-way rolling lights on Vivis Lane from Monday 13 March for three weeks, with the final section of works carried out under a road closure on Vivis Lane from the junction of Goslipgate to Fishers Garth from 3 April for two weeks.

Due to the traffic management, the existing market will be moved from Market Place into The Ropery Car Park for five weeks as of Monday 23 January while works take place on Hungate.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and engineers will work from Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm.

A customer drop-in clinic will take place at The Ropery car park every Monday from 10am, where the NGN team will be able to speak to customers about the project and answer questions.

NGN will be holding a public meeting for customers on Wednesday 4 January 2017 at the Memorial Hall, Potter Lane Pickering YO18 8AA. Our Customer Care team will be on hand to discuss the works in more depth, answer questions and provide further information.

Robert Hope, Construction Services Area Manager Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with North Yorkshire County Council to carefully plan these works in order to minimise any disruption to customers.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these works, and thank our customers for their patience and support in getting them 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.