Chester city centre faces six weeks of disruption

Dec 31 2009 Chester Chronicle

MAJOR disruption to traffic is expected in Chester city centre for six weeks due to essential gas works.

Lower Watergate Street and adjoining side-roads will be shut from January 18 until February 26.

The work is part of a five-year £20m programme to replace more than 88 miles of iron gas mains across Chester with modern polyethylene pipe.

It will ensure the city has a safe and secure gas supply for years to come.

While the work is under way, Lower Watergate Street will be closed to all vehicles from the inner ring road and Watergate Square, by the Watergate Inn. Nuns Road and City Walls Road will also be closed at their junction with Lower Watergate Street.

Footpaths will remain open at all times, along with access to Lower Watergate Street car park.

Chester-bound traffic using the A548 Sealand Road will be diverted on to the Deva Link, up Parkgate Road and on to the ring road, with the reverse for North Wales-bound motorists.

Once in place, this new main will help engineers speed up the process of replacing gas pipes in other areas of the city. To make full use of the road closure, Cheshire West and Chester Council will carry out resurfacing work while other utility companies will conduct maintenance work.

A spokesman for Gas Alliance said: “We apologise for any inconvenience our work will cause but out work will benefit homes and businesses across the city.”