Hemel Hempstead road closure authorised as £123m gas works project begins
A major gas works project begins in Hemel Hempstead as part of a wider £123 million piping scheme.
Gas distribution firm Cadent is overseeing a large pipe replacement project in the town. As part of the scheme, the company has obtained permission to close off Kingsland Road.
Cadent has described the work as essential and announced the project is set to continue until August 14.
"The scheme involves the decommissioning of current metallic gas pipes which were originally installed in the 1940s and installing 400 metres of tough new pipes which will last for decades, future proofing the local network,” a spokesperson for Cadent revealed.
They also announced that the project is part of a wider £123 million project which will see more than 395km of gas pipes upgraded across the East of England.
Cadent says a full road closure of Kingsland Road has been authorised due to the location of the gas pipes and to ensure safety. Motorists will have to use diversion routes at times during the scheme and residents will have access to the area, the distribution company advises.
Eleanor Buxton, head of work management at Cadent, said: The metallic pipes that are in place in this section of the network have been very well used over the past 80 years and it’s time for them to be replaced so that we can continue to deliver gas to peoples' homes 24/7, 365 days a year.
"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.
“We are very conscious of the disruption works like this cause and hope people understand this project is essential to maintain a long-term safe gas supply.”
Residents are advised that gas will stay on during the project and only homes which take a direct feed from the pipes being replaced will experience interruptions.
Cadent says it will give advance notice to the homes directly affected. Residents are also advised to ring the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999 if they smell gas, and not to assume it is related to the works.