Work to upgrade a gas pipeline in Rochdale Road in Oldham town centre has started and is scheduled to last to the middle of August.
Cadent, which manages the local gas distribution network, is calling time on ageing pipes that help distribute gas to heat thousands of homes in the North West.
The pipe, which runs beneath Rochdale Road, across St Mary’s Way, has operated non-stop for around 50 years. While still safe today it needs replacing to ensure an ongoing, uninterrupted supply now and into the future.
Following consultation with Oldham Council’s highways officers, the Cadent team moved into place this morning (22 July) to begin this work. The project is expected to take around four weeks to complete.
All roads remain open, with traffic lights managing the flow of vehicles. Amendments were made to the layout this morning, to improve access for buses to and from the nearby bus station, and to reduce traffic build-up.
Peter Boulton, TfGM’s Highways Network Director, said: “An increase in journey times is expected during the works, including for those travelling on Bee Network bus services.
“Customers are encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys and check the Bee Network website and social media channels for the latest information and advice.
“We are working to reduce delays by adapting signal timings as well as working with Stagecoach to adjust services and run additional buses to limit the impact.”
This is all part of an £80m package of work announced by Cadent in April, as it continues with a 30-year programme to upgrade its older pipes and have the network ready for greener gases.
More than 7.5km of pipes in the Oldham area will be upgraded this year, and 420km across the whole of the North West.
Mark Syers, Head of Investment Planning (North West), Cadent, said: “We have a responsibility to make sure every property that uses gas has access to a safe and reliable supply, 24/7, 365 days a year.
“This includes upgrading our pipelines, particularly those which are reaching the natural end of a long working life, like this pipe under Rochdale Road.
“We know this is a busy road, so we have worked with Oldham Council to agree a week-by-week plan of work, and to keep the traffic management under review.
“We made some quick amendments this morning, which should help buses navigate the work area easier and reduce the level of disruption that was being experienced.”
