Mottram: engineers work through snowfall and freezing weather to repair pipe and keep people warm in their homes

• Cadent engineers moved quick to make everything safe after a gas leak
• Challenging engineering kept 7,000 homes warm in the recent cold spell
• Final stages of work, with a view to roadworks ending w/c 13^th March

Major engineering work to repair a leaking gas pipe in Mottram – a pipe that helps carry gas to heat 7,000 homes – has made good progress this week.

Cadent, which manages the local gas network, succeeded in keeping gas flowing through this week’s cold spell, ensuring local homes stayed warm.

Its engineers were first alerted to the suspected leak around three weeks ago and took immediately action to make sure everyone was safe.

But they needed to excavate a big site, 16 metres at its longest and around 1.5 metres deep, to gain access to the section of pipe they’d need to work on.

With such a large excavation and heavy machinery in a tight space, they had no option but to close Ashworth Lane to through traffic.

Now Cadent is able to confirm that the specialist repair work has progressed well this week. It hopes to have the road reopen within days.

A bypass pipe was installed – meaning gas continued to flow to local homes and the leaking pipe could be safely worked on, with full sections replaced.

Cadent will be testing the pipeline over the coming days and then, once content all is working as it should, the road can be reinstated.

“We are hopeful that we can have the road reopen to traffic this week [w/c 13^th March] – possibly by the middle of the week if everything goes to plan,” said Ste Warner, Network Specialist, Cadent.

“We’ve faced a big engineering challenge, and we’ve worked hard to keep everyone safe and keep gas flowing, so that people can stay warm in their homes. We know it’s led to added traffic congestion and we appreciate everyone’s ongoing patience.”

Once the road is reopened, there will continue to be a Cadent presence in the area, as teams get to work on reinstating around 50 square metres of block paving.

For now, a full closure of Ashworth Lane, near the junction with Market Place, remains in place. There is not enough room for vehicles to pass safely.

Traffic needs to follow alternative routes, which is leading to unavoidable added congestion on nearby roads.

Cadent manages the 21,000-mile gas distribution network in North West England, ensuring gas safely reaches 2.7 million properties for heating, hot water and cooking.

It also provides the region’s 24/7, year-round gas emergency service.

If you smell gas, always call 0800 111 999* immediately, day or night. Do not assume it is related to nearby work. It may not be and needs to be checked.