Drivers face disruption on key road into city

Drivers will face disruption this week as gas repair works to a century-old pipe will require lanes to shut at one of the key routes in and out of Norwich.

From about 20:00 BST on Monday, 15 June, lane closures will be in place on Martineau Lane and Bracondale outside Norfolk County Hall, with work beginning on Tuesday.

It is the second time in the past three months gas repair works have been needed at this site, which is used by motorists to connect with major roads including the A47 southern bypass and the A146.

Cadent said a new gas leak has been discovered but, currently, it cannot say how long the repairs will take to complete.

The lane closures will likely cause significant disruption, particularly during rush hour traffic.

Dan Ridlington, Cadent's head of operational delivery for the East of England, said: "We responded to a gas escape reported in April, which due to the location was quite complex.

"The gas main is approximately 100 years old and it is quite deep in the carriageway.

"We found a number of gas escapes at that time which we repaired successfully.

"We've continued to monitor the area and unfortunately, there's been a new gas escape at a slightly different location which we need to remediate."

Ridlington said while they currently do not know how long the works will take, the engineers have more knowledge about the problems with the gas main from the work in April.

"We're going to work as safely and efficiently as we possibly can to get this repaired as quickly as possible to keep disruption to the minimum," he added.

"There is no concern to the wider public, we are monitoring this and it is safe."

Cadent said people can call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999 if they smell gas.

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