Six months of gas works to start on busy road

Gas main works that are set to close a town centre route for six months are about to begin.

The gas distribution company, Cadent, will be replacing 1.8 miles (3km) of gas pipes in Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, from Thursday.

The work, due to finish in October, was meant to start earlier this month, but a gas leak was found on a pipe further along the road and needed to be fixed first.

Project manager Gary Tidman said he was aware there would be some drivers unhappy with the disruption, but the works were "essential".

"We have a responsibility to make sure every property that uses gas has access to it 24/7, 365 days a year and these essential works will mean that we continue to deliver on that promise," he explained.

"We know it's far from ideal to have any sort of road closures or traffic management in place in what is a busy area, but we have worked hard with the local authorities to create a plan that keeps traffic flowing and maintains access for local businesses and residents."

The work will be completed in stages with the use of traffic lights and road closures to side roads to ensure traffic is able to flow.

Mr Tidman said Cadent had also planned the works during school half-term and the summer holidays, to keep "disruption to a minimum".

The work will see the current ageing metallic gas pipes, which date back to 1907, replaced with tough plastic pipes that are expected to last for decades, Cadent said.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.