National Grid has unveiled plans which will give Kendal one of the most modern gas main systems in the country.
Following on from work carried out in the town last year, National Grid is planning to replace a further 5km of iron gas mains with modern plastic pipe. Once complete, Kendal will benefit from a virtually ‘all plastic’ mains system within the town centre.
In total, over £750,000 will be spent on the next phases of the continuing mains replacement programme with the bulk of the work being carried out in the 2007/8 financial year.
In January, a small mains replacement project will be carried out in Blackhall Road. Work will start on Blackhall Road and will take 4 weeks to complete. A total of 250 metres of 8-inch diameter main will be replaced with 180-millimetre plastic pipe.
From April next year, work will start on a further three phases of mains replacement. One essential element of the work is the need to increase the pressure of the gas being brought across the river into the centre of Kendal. National Grid is currently seeking a site close to the town centre to install modern underground equipment to control gas pressures.
If a suitable site can be found, this means that the work planned in Stricklandgate can be carried out using an insertion technique, reducing the need for significant trenching through the pedestrianised area.
1. SOUTH OF THE TOWN CENTRE
The existing 12-inch diameter main on Kirkland will be replaced between the junctions with Anchorite Road and Gillingate, with a short section also being replaced along Church Walk. The main running from Kirkland into Lound Road and into Parkside Road as far as No. 13 will also be replaced. This main crosses over Nether Bridge underneath the footpath.
2. TOWN CENTRE
The gas main along Highgate and Stricklandgate from the junction with Gillingate to the junction with Sandes Avenue is to be replaced with the exception of one short section which is already plastic main. If the gas pressures in this main can be increased and a site for the gas pressure control equipment found in the town centre, then the new main along this section will be inserted inside the existing main reducing the need for open excavation.
A further section of main into Sandes Avenue and from Sandes Avenue north along Stricklandgate and into Windermere Road up to Queens Road will be replaced using traditional open cut excavation techniques. This is because this section of main needs to be replaced with a main of an identical size to maintain adequate gas pressures. Therefore it cannot be inserted into the existing pipe.
NORTH OF THE TOWN CENTRE
The main along Windermere Road from outside No. 180 to the junction with Green Road will be replaced along with the main along Garth Brow to its junction with Hallgarth Circle. The section of main between Green Road to Garth Brow will be inserted into the existing gas main, reducing the need for open excavation.
Timescales for the work are currently being discussed with the county council.
Craig Horrocks, Term Contract Manager for National Grid said: “We appreciate that the people of Kendal will be concerned about the scale of our continuing work in and around the town centre.
“Obviously, there will be further disruption whilst we renew the remaining sections of metal mains but once these final phases of our work are complete, Kendal will have one of the most modern gas main systems in the country.
“The plastic pipes we are using to replace the metal ones have a lifespan of up to 80 years if they are undisturbed, once in the ground. We will do everything we can to minimise disruption while we carry out our work. We are committed to using ‘no dig’ techniques to lay the mains wherever this is physically possible.”
Once plans are finalised, National Grid will be holding a public information event in the town centre early in the year to give further information about the programme of work.
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For further media information only, please contact Jeanette Jackson, National Grid Communications on 07785 290230.