News Release
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Essential gas mains replacement work to take place in Liverpool city centre

Hanover Street in Liverpool will be closed to traffic between Bold Street and Gladwell Street for eight weeks from Sunday 1 March while work is carried out to replace old metal mains with modern plastic pipes.

The new gas mains will last for around 80 years once buried in the ground.

National Grid engineers will start work on Sunday on replacing a 183 metre section of metal pipe which is 18 inches in diameter. The new plastic main will be pushed inside the old metal pipe to speed up work and cut down on the need for holes in the road. The main is being replaced because there have been a number of leaks on this section of pipe over recent years. The work has been planned with the help of Liverpool City Council and will be completed before the three Cunard cruise ships arrive at the docks.

Stephen Murray, contract manager, National Grid said: "People across the city centre enjoy a safe and reliable gas supply and our job is to make sure it stays that way.

"The new mains we are laying in Hanover Street area will last around 80 years so while there will be some traffic delays in the short term, the long term benefit will be mains which will last for many decades to come. We have been working with Liverpool City Council for several months on planning this work and we have been in touch with traders in the area to give them notice of our project. We will be replacing pipes further down Hanover Street later in the year and we are currently working on the detail and timings of the second phase of our work."

"If people want to know more about the first phase of our work and how it will affect them, they can get in touch with us on 0161 703 1000."

Hanover Street will be closed to traffic between Bold Street and Gradwell Street. Due to weight restrictions on some local roads, there will be two diversions routes - one for cars and light vehicles and the other for HGVs, as follows:

Cars and light vehicles: Duke Street, Berry Street, Renshaw Street and Ranelagh Street

HGVs: Duke Street, Great George Street, Jamaica Street or Chaloner Street

A video which shows what people can expect to see during the operation to renew gas mains in their street can be viewed on Google or YouTube by entering National Grid Gas Mains Replacement (UK) in the search box.

National Grid is renewing around 430km of gas mains in the North West during this financial year. This is part of £22 billion programme of investment in the company's energy networks in the UK and US over a five year period.



Contact for media information only:

Jeanette Unsworth

Regional Press Officer NW & NW
National Grid Media Relations
+44 (0)7785 290230
jeanette.unsworth@nationalgrid.com
Out of hours duty press officer:
+44 (0)845 366 6760

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