Workers from gas distribution network Wales & West Utilities have started a £700,000 investment programme laying new gas pipes in Bideford so homes and businesses can have a safe and reliable gas supply now and for the future.
This scheme is part of the company’s multi-million-pound 30-year gas pipe replacement programme being delivered across the south west of England and Wales, which began in 2002.
But the work in Bideford requires something a bit different from most of the upgrade programmes that Wales & West Utilities carries out.
Rob Long, Programme Director with responsibility for delivery of Wales & West Utilities’ gas pipe replacement programme explains:
“While some of the work we are going to be doing will be in streets and footpaths on either side of the River Torridge, we also have the challenge of laying a new gas pipe underneath the river. This is to replace the old pipe that currently runs through the structure of the medieval Bideford Long Bridge, which is a grade 1 listed ancient monument.
“We have had to enlist the help of specialist contractors G&J Engineering, who will be drilling beneath the river from a site in Victoria Park to a field on the east bank of the River Torridge, near the junction of Barnstaple Street and Manteo Way. Once a small tunnel has been drilled, we will pull the new plastic pipe back through it, and connect it to the existing gas network at either end.
“We are experts in looking after the gas network, and we replace more than 400km of gas pipe every year, mostly in roads and verges. We know that the best way to tackle such a different job like this one is to work with specialist contractors, and adopt an innovative approach to crossing the river, working in a way that we hope will keep inconvenience for the community to a minimum.
“Once we have the new pipe in place beneath the river, we can turn off the old pipe running through Bideford Long Bridge.
“This job will be an impressive engineering achievement which will make sure Bideford has a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come. It’s rare we can say that a gas pipe replacement project is exciting, but this one really is,” concluded Rob.
There will also be several phases of work that will need to be carried out on either side of the river to connect the new gas pipe under the river to the existing gas network. Work started in the area on 19 October, and we anticipate drilling under the river and the work either side of the river will take 15 weeks to complete.
- Phase One is due to start week commencing 9 November, and will involve a new gas pipe being laid up the Tarka Trail from its access near the junction of Barnstaple Street and Ethelwynne Brown Close, to the point where the trail re-joins the road at the junction of Barnstaple Street and Manteo Way. The trail will be closed for the duration of the work, which is expected to be four weeks. A diversion route for the trail, via Ethelwynne Brown Close, will be clearly signposted.
- Phase Two is due to start week commencing 16 November, and will involve laying a new gas pipe from the junction of Bideford Long Bridge and Barnstaple Street heading north, to the junction of Barnstaple Street and Ethelwynne Brown Close. Two way traffic lights will be in place for the duration of this part of the work, which should take four weeks to complete. We will also be working in Victoria Park to connect the new gas pipe to the existing gas network in Park Avenue.
- Phase Three is due to start week commencing 9 December, and will involve night closures on Torrington Street for two weeks, with the road remaining open during the day. At times we may need to keep the road during the day, but this will be kept to a minimum.. A diversion will be clearly signposted.
- Phase Four is due to start after Christmas on the west bank of the River Torridge. This will involve a series of small working areas moving north up the A386. Traffic lights will be in place while we work, and we anticipate this phase will take two weeks to complete. During this phase we will also be working in Glendale Terrace/Alexandra Terrace and Kingsley Road. So we can work safely in these areas, Glendale Terrace/Alexandra Terrace will be closed from 11 January to 19 February 2016. Access for local residents will be maintained, and a diversion route will be clearly signposted. There will be two way traffic lights on Kingsley Road for four weeks from 8 February 2016.
We’ll keep people updated on how we are doing with this scheme. If there are any changes to our plans – or if we encounter any significant engineering difficulties that mean work will be delayed, we will update our website at wwutilities.co.uk.
Anyone who has any questions can always approach the team on site or ring our customer services team on free phone 0800 912 2999 or 02921 678 455. We can also be contacted on Twitter @WWUtilities, and on Facebook.com/WWUtilities.