Shropshire roads to close for major gas works
Road closures and temporary traffic lights will be put up around a north Shropshire town as part of a major gas mains replacement scheme.
National Grid said it will be closing roads across Market Drayton to carry out essential low pressure mains replacements.
The scheme will take place along Shrewsbury Road and involves replacing iron gas pipes with polyethylene pipes.
Richard King, senior construction manager for the National Grid, which is working with Shropshire Council and Balfour Beatty to carry out the works, gave a presentation to councillors at Market Drayton Town Council.
He said: "We have already started door knocking and sending letters out to explain how it all works. We are speaking to people on the front line, as communication is key.
"We will also send out a series of letters including one 90 days before, 10 days before and a letter before the gas is cut off."
The first stage of the gas replacement works will begin on the Chestnut Road junction with Shrewsbury Road where there will be temporary traffic lights.
The work will then move to the junction of Shrewsbury Road and Buntingsdale Road and then the Bentleys Road junction and the Sherwood Crescent junction.
Mr King added: "Due to School Lane being so narrow the road will have to be closed while the works take place. The work will be carried out during March and April. It is expected to take a couple of months.
"We have got a compensation package for any business directly affected. It will be necessary to use traffic management such as temporary traffic lights at some of the locations. We have been here before but came across a few problems so we are coming back to finish the project."
Councillor Mark Whittle said he has concerns about vulnerable people having their gas turned off.
But Mr King said: "We have door-knocked and identified the vulnerable customers. We supply heaters and hot plates for when the gas goes off for the elderly and vulnerable.
"The work will take place between 8am and 5.30pm and we will do some weekends as well.
"We will try our best to maintain access for emergency services."
Mr King said the work will be carried out at locations listed on the risk register which shows where work is needed where small leaks are detected.
He said: "This work is essential. All of these pipes are on a risk register.
"There are a lot of leaks and they need to be replaced as soon as possible."