Next phase of work to start on £300,000 investment in new gas pipes for Mountain Ash

Our gas pipe improvement scheme in Mountain Ash is progressing really well and we are now two weeks ahead of schedule.

We have now completed phase one of our work in Oxford Street, between Commercial Street and Henry Street, and the Council has taken the opportunity of our road closure to resurface this section of Oxford Street. This section of Oxford Street has now been re-opened.

Our Programme Controller Francis Kirk said, “We are now taking the opportunity to make an early start on the next phase of work, starting immediately after the Council’s resurfacing work is completed on Monday 17 August. For phase two we will be closing Oxford Street between Henry Street and Darran Road and anticipate work here will take six weeks to complete.

“We will clearly signpost the diversionary route and we are working with local traders to make sure that, where possible, we can maintain access for deliveries. To make sure traffic along the diversion route flows as smoothly as possible, we have asked residents of Dyffryn Street, Graig Street, High Street, Llanwonno Road and other town centre streets and roads, to park safely and considerately.

“The third and final phase of our works will require traffic lights on Miskin Road between Darran Road and Bailey Street and we have now scheduled this to start on 28 September, anticipating that it will take six weeks to complete.

“We have placed signs on roads leading to the town and on the roads we have closed in the town stating ‘businesses open as usual’. Working alongside the local authority, we are continuing to contribute towards the cost of additional buses and resources so that the bus services affected by our work in the Mountain Ash area can maintain an acceptable level of service. We will also continue, as a gesture of goodwill, to cover the cost of parking in the town centre while Oxford Street is closed – so local people can get to the shops as easily as possible.”

Our colleagues on site are working as quickly and as safely as possible to get this work done. Replacing gas pipes is a complex operation, and adding more colleagues to the team would not mean the work would be completed any sooner. We are also laying new service pipes into businesses on Oxford Street, so while the team may not be working in the main excavation works area, they are still there and making progress on the new service pipes supplying those premises.

Before starting this scheme, we did consider whether we would be able to work through the night, but the risks for the team were too great, given the engineering complexities involved when working on large gas pipes and in low light conditions. We have agreed with the local authority that the team will take advantage of the long, light days as much as possible and are starting work before 8:00am and continuing into the evenings, seven days a week.

We know that this work is disruptive, but it really is essential to make sure that homes and businesses in the area continue to receive a safe and reliable supply of gas now and in the future and we will continue to post regular updates here. People can always approach the team on site with any questions or alternatively ring our customer services team on free phone 0800 912 2999 or 02921 678 455.