City road to close while gas mains are replaced

About 80 metres of old metal gas pipes will be dug up and replaced with more reliable plastic ones under Cottingham Road.

The work will see the partial closure of Cottingham Road, which provides access to Hull University and is part of a route that steers traffic away from the city centre.

The work, being carried out by Morgan Sindall on behalf of Yorkshire's gas pipeline owner, Northern Gas Networks, will begin on August 2 and is expected to last a month.

Diversions will be in place and a customer liaison officer will carry out regular visits to the area to discuss the work with residents and traders.

Both Northern Gas Networks and Morgan Sindall have apologised in advance for any inconvenience.

Northern Gas Networks director Chris Gorman said disruption would be kept to a minimum and the pipes would not need renewing again for at least 80 years.

He said: "This is a major gas main renewal project and will ensure that the safety and reliability of the gas network in Hull is greatly improved.

"We will do everything we can to minimise any disruption. This year, Northern Gas Networks will invest 63m renewing gas mains to ensure that our system remains one of the safest in the world.

"The good news is that our new plastic pipes are more durable and flexible and have a lifespan of at least 80 years."

Northern Gas Networks owns all the gas mains in the area but employs United Utilities to look after their day-to-day operations.

The Northern Gas Networks region covers an area of 27,000 square miles with a population of 6.7 million people.