Upgrades to replace 750m of 1950s gas pipes

Upgrade works will be carried out to replace 2,461ft (750m) of metallic gas pipes installed in the 1950s.

Cadent will lay new pipes throughout Ipswich in a bid to "future-proof" the network over an eight-week period.

The work will be carried out in three phases along Nacton Road, Gorse Road, Landeer Road, Mildmay Road, Lindbergh Road, Maryon Road and Rands Way, from 15 February, with a number of road closures and diversion routes in place.

Dan Wigfell, Cadent project manager, said: "This part of the network has done an outstanding job for a long time, but it is now time for replacement work to take place so that we can continue to deliver gas to people's homes 24/7, 365 days a year."

The work is being carried out as part of a £91m investment project to upgrade more than 186 miles (300km) of pipes in the East of England. The work is due to end by 10 April.

The company said gas will stay on for the duration of the works, and the only interruption will be to properties that take direct supply from the pipes being replaced; however, advance notice will be given.

It is also carrying out work to replace 6,562ft (2,000m) of metal gas pipes with tough plastic ones over eight weeks from 16 February to 15 April.

Work will be carried out along Freehold Road, Parliament Road, Upland Road, Bloomfield Street, Henslow Road, Ringham Road, Cowper Street, Tokio Road, Crabbe Street and Kembal Street.

Wigfell said: "These upgrades also have big environmental gains, as they reduce methane emissions and enable a move to more renewable gases like biomethane. This is essential for a cleaner future — the UK will need energy to come from a range of sources to meet demand and be sustainable.

"While the work has been separated into sections, we will be working as efficiently as possible to complete the work in a timely manner. Whenever we start a new section, we will ensure any diversions are updated while also ensuring residents have access to their homes."

He added: "I thank everybody for their patience as we take the measures needed to ensure our engineers can carry out these works as safely and as efficiently as possible."

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