MORE than 800 metres of gas pipes will be replaced during an extensive Barrow engineering project that will get under way on Monday.

As part of a £77.5m North West investment project by gas company, Cadent, six months of work will replace ageing metal pipes with replacements which will last into the next century.

However, due to the extensive nature of the work, there will be long-running disruption for motorists in Bath Street, Nelson Street and Drake Street.

Following consultation with council highways officers, the agreed course of action during the work will result in road closures on all side roads of Bath Street, from Chatsworth Street to Napier Street. However, there will only be one road closure at any one time. Diversions will be in place.

On some of the junctions temporary traffic lights will be in place to ensure there is as little disruption to drivers as possible.

Cadent says it will do its best to keep access to homes, shops and businesses open for pedestrians throughout the duration of the work.

Steve Murray, head of Cadent’s gas mains replacement programme in the North West, said: "This is a major investment in the gas network in Barrow. It’s essential work and will mean local people can continue to enjoy safe and reliable supplies, to heat their homes, cook their meals and fuel their businesses, for decades to come.

“This is big project in a residential area. We need to put in place traffic restrictions, to keep everyone – residents and our own workers – safe while we are working in the road.

"We will do everything we can to minimise disruption.”

The work will begin on Monday October 23 and is scheduled to finish by March 2018. There will be brief periods when work is suspended with road restrictions being lifted during Christmas, from December 22 to January 2.

There is a risk residents will suffer disruption to their gas supply. Cadent says it may have to temporarily disconnect people’s gas supplies for short periods as their maintenance crews work to replace the pipes connecting the main gas line to their homes.

However, it has made assurances home and business owners will be notified before any disruption occurs.

For information on the planned work a hotline is open where members of the public can make inquiries. They should call 0161 703 1000 or 1010. More information is also available by going to www.bettergaspipes.co.uk.