Southend Road, wickford
Start date: 10 April 2023
Project manager: Matt Payne
Local delivery partner: KLT Utilities Ltd
Project overview
We are upgrading the gas pipes along Spinney close, Hill Avenue, Mount Road and Southend Road, to ensure you continue to receive a reliable gas supply for many more years to come.
We will be replacing approximately 2.5km of the existing gas pipes in these locations which means we’ll need to excavate holes in the ground to access the pipes to inspect and replace them.
Due to the nature of the work involved, the location of the gas pipes and most importantly keeping the public safe, we will be using multiway traffic lights.
To minimise disruption, we will be replacing the section of the gas pipe outside Wickford Church of England School during the summer holidays, where we will be installing a road closure at the Wick Lane junction of Southend Road, and the Mount Road junction with Southend Road, to enable us to complete our work safely.
We understand that once we start work on Southend Road and install the multiway traffic lights, this will cause significant disruption to the area, and we will do all we can to ensure that each phase is completed in a safe and timely manner.
Phase 1 - 3 weeks - COMPLETE
Starting 10 April at the railway bridge and up to junction Hawkins Close and Cherry Lane. Due to the location of the existing gas pipe in this section, we will need to dig excavations on both sides of the footway.
During this period a safe walkway will be signposted for pedestrians to use.
Phase 2 - 3 weeks - COMPLETE
From the junction of Hawkins Close to junction of Monarch Close.
Phase 3 - 4 weeks - COMPLETE
From the junction of Monarch Close to the junction of Vista Road.
Phase 4 - 4 weeks - COMPLETE
From the junction of Vista Road to outside 158 Southend Road.
Phase 5 - 2 weeks - COMPLETE
From outside 158 Southend Road to opposite the junction of Highcliffe Road.
Phase 6 - 2 weeks - COMPLETE
From opposite Highcliffe Road to opposite 127 Southend Road.
Phase 7 - 4 weeks - COMPLETE
From opposite 127 Southend Road to outside 118 Southend Road.
Phase 8 - 2 weeks – COMPLETE
From opposite 118 Southend Road to outside 127 Southend Road.
Phase 9 - 2.5 weeks - COMPLETE
We have to combined phase 9 and 10 to make the delivery of these phases more efficient – both phases now 2.5 weeks together.
From outside 127 Southend Road to outside 2 Highcliffe Road.
Phase 10 - 2.5 weeks – COMPLETE
We have combined phase 9 and 10 to make the delivery of these phases more efficient – both phases now 2.5 weeks .
From outside 2 Highcliffe Road to outside 155 Southend Road.
Phase 11 - 2.5 weeks - COMPLETE
Phase 11 and 12 will be combined to make the delivery of these phases more efficient – both phases now 2.5 weeks.
From outside 169 Southend Road to outside 185 Southend Road.
Phase 12 – 2.5 weeks - COMPLETE
Phase 11 and 12 will be combined to make the delivery of these phases more efficient – both phases now 2.5 weeks.
From outside 185 Southend Road to opposite Hawkins Close.
24 July 2023 – 4 Sept 2023 (school summer holidays) - COMPLETE
Southend Road from outside Wickford Church into Mount Road – this will include a closure on exits of Mount Road and Wick Lane on to Southend Road to allow us access to the gas main to complete our works.
4 Sept – Sept 2023
Phase 13 - 2 weeks - COMPLETE
From outside 155 Southend Road to outside 169 Southend Road including 20m into Hill Avenue.
Additional phases
There is a further phase to complete in Hill Avenue and Spinney Close, which will begin where the gas pipe will be left in Phase 11 and continue up to the junction and including the entire length of Spinney Close. - COMPLETE
These locations are approximate, final locations for excavations will be dependent on the exact location of the existing gas pipe.
Contacting us
Our area customer manager is Justine Sadler. She can be reached on justine.sadler@morrisones.com or by telephone on 07929 656795.
You can also contact our customer care centre by telephone on 0800 085 4478 (lines are open 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 4.00pm on Saturdays) or by email to CustomerCareLondon@cadentgas.com.
Project updates
22 SEPTEMBER - 15:00
The final phase of the project is on track and all works are still planned to be completed by Sunday 24th September.
The last section of reinstatement is being completed today, in preparation to remove all traffic management on site tomorrow. Following that, Southend Road, Hill Avenue and Spinney Close will all be complete and site clear in regards to engineering works, reinstatement and traffic management.
All signage, lighting and guarding located behind the shops will be cleared as soon as possible. Please note, they will not affect traffic flow.
We would like to thank our customers and the local community for your patience during our works.
15 September - 16:14
The final phase is progressing well and we are on track for all work to be completed by Sunday 24 September. Please note that the current traffic management arrangements will remain in place until the project is complete.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during our work.
8 September - 15:55
The team is continuing to work on the final phase of the project in Hill Avenue, close to the junction with Southend Road.
Following the start of the new school term on 5 September, traffic flow and the safety of pedestrians has been monitored. As a result, we deemed the risk of the site set up to be too great and have subsequently agreed a road closure with the Highway Authority.
The closure was set up this afternoon and will be in place on the junction of Hill Avenue and Spinney Close for approximately two weeks. This will keep the site safe for pedestrians and will also allow the traffic lights to be removed from Southend Road.
We are aiming to complete all work and have the site cleared by the end of Sunday 24 August.
1 September - 16:15
All engineering work has now been completed on Southend Road. Unfortunately, the traffic management will need to remain in place until Thursday next week.
Next week work will begin on the last phase of the project on Hill Avenue. This final phase will be completed under three-way temporary traffic lights. It will be the most disruptive phase of work, so extra signage will be going out on Monday advising motorists to avoid the area if possible.
We are pleased to advise that the commencement of the final phase means that we are due to finish the project 5 - 6 weeks ahead of schedule. We would like to thank you again for your patience and understanding during our work.
25 AUGUST - 16.30
Work in Mount Road are now complete and the section will be reopen by late Sunday afternoon.
Next week, the team plan to complete the last section of mains replacement required on Southend Road. Barring any unforeseen challenges, the works are planned to be complete by Thursday afternoon and all of the traffic management on Southend will be removed by Sunday evening (3 September).
This will then leave approximately 60-70m of the existing pipe left to replace in Hill Avenue.
We will keep you updated with progress - thank you for your patience and understanding during our work.
18 August - 17:05
The team will be continuing to work in Mount Road until Tuesday next week, this is due to delays during work at Wickford Church of England School. The road closure on Wick Lane has now been removed.
On Tuesday, when work recommences on Southend Road, five-way temporary traffic lights will be installed at the junction with Hill Avenue and Vista Road.
We understand this will be disruptive for you and apologise in advance for the inconvenience. Please be assured we will be doing everything we can to minimise the impact of our work.
11 August - 16:43
This week the team replaced a further 150m of the existing pipe from outside St Katherines Church to property number 96. The area will be reinstated by close of play on Monday.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the team will be working on the additional phase of work in Mount Road. During this time there will be no traffic management on Southend Road.
Work has progressed well, meaning that we hope that phase 13 of work on Southend Road will commence on Thursday. Once phase 13 does begin, the traffic management will be reinstated.
04 AUGUST – 12.00
This week the team were completing preparation works in order to carry out the engineering works from outside St Katherines Church, working their way down towards property number 95.
During the weekend, the team will be present in order to complete the preparation works, in order to begin the next step next week.
Next week the team plan to replace approximately 150m of existing gas pipe and the service pipes that feed gas into 3 properties. Any customers affected by this work have been informed.
29 July - 12:10
This week 150m of the existing gas pipe was replaced on Southend Road.
Next week the team will be starting work outside St Katherines Church, working their way down towards property number 95.
21 July - 15:50
Work has continued on Spinny Hill this week and the team will be moving back to Southend Road on Monday as planned.
Road closures will be in place on to Wick Lane and Mount Road and multi-way traffic signals will be in place on Southend Road from 7am.
14 July - 15:20
This week work has been ongoing on Spinny Hill and the team will be on site there again next week. Work is progressing well and they are on track to return to Southend Road on Monday 24 July.
7 July - 13:15
Phases 11 and 12 will be completed this afternoon and all traffic management will be removed from Southend Road by the afternoon of Monday 10 July.
Next week the team will be working on one of the additional phases of work on Spinny Close. No traffic management is required for this phase.
The next phase of work on Southend Road on Monday 24 July. Traffic management will be back onsite from 7am.
30 June - 14:15
Phases 9 and 10 were completed this week as planned. The traffic management on site has now been removed for the weekend and will be reinstated again on Monday morning.
Next week the team will be starting work on the combined phases 11 and 12.
23 June - 12:30
Some phases of this project have been combined to maximise efficiency. Please see phase detail above to see the changes made to phase 9 onwards.
Phase 8 is now complete and the combined phases 9 and 10 are underway and will be completed next week.
16 JUNE – 14.00
As scheduled, this week the team completed phase 8 and a further 120m of the existing pipe has been replaced. Please be advised, during the weekend the reinstatement team will be present to complete reinstatement works. The reinstatement team will be available to answer any reinstatement related queries.
Once reinstatement work is completed, we plan to begin work on Phase 9.
09 June - 14:20
Works are continuing to progress well. This week completed phase 7 as planed which means a further 120m of the existing gas pipe has now been replaced.
Next week we will be moving onto phase 8.
02 june - 11.30
As planned, works for Phase 7 began this week. The team are onsite today and are completing the remaining engineering works for this phase. Once complete, please be advised that the reinstatement team will be present during this weekend to complete the reinstatement works. The reinstatement team will be available to answer any reinstatement related queries.
Once reinstatement work is completed, we plan to begin work on Phase 8.
26 MAY - 12.00
This week the team completed the next two phases of the project. To date we have replaced approximately 650m of existing gas pipe, along with the pipes that feed gas into the associated properties. Works are currently on schedule.
The engineering works for Phase 7 will begin next week, and we will keep you updated with progress.
15 May - 09:30
Work has been progressing well, the engineering work on phase 4 will be completed tomorrow. Once the reinstatement work is completed, we will begin work on phase 5. We anticipate this will be done by the middle of next week.