Micklegate gas work will take two months (From York Press)

Micklegate gas work will take two months

11:21am Tuesday 1st January 2013 in News

TRAFFIC in a York street which is one of the city’s historic entrance routes is set to be disrupted over the coming weeks by major gas main replacement work.

The project in Micklegate, which is due to start on January 7 and is expected to last for two months, involves the replacement of a 15-inch cast-iron gas main underneath the street and associated supply pipes.

A spokesman for the Micklegate Quarter, the area’s traders’ association, said contractors carrying out the work had planned to notify association members in the New Year.

“But we thought it best everyone heard as soon as possible as it has the potential to be very disruptive,” he said.

He was aware of some specific access issues already for several businesses, and was going to arrange a meeting on January 3 or January 4 to discuss some solutions with the contractors.

He said a series of trenches 150 feet long would be dug and filled in, one at a time, over a period of seven weeks, starting at George Hudson Street and working up to finish at Micklegate Bar.

A one-way traffic system would allow cars to flow eastbound from Micklegate Bar towards George Hudson Street, but westbound traffic would be diverted at George Hudson Street and prevented from heading up the hill towards Micklegate Bar.

He said the contractors had said the work would be predominantly in the road, but pavements would also be affected, although pedestrian movement and access to premises would be maintained.

The contractors had said every effort would be made to minimise disruption, but as much of the carriageway as possible would remain accessible during the works.

No work was scheduled during the project in side streets such as Trinity Lane, Barker Lane and Priory Street, but the trenches, traffic diversions and parking restrictions would have a knock-on effect.

A Northern Gas Networks spokesman was unavailable for comment.