Work will start on Monday to replace 1.2km of gas pipe under Sussex Road.
The replacement work will start on Monday 9th November and will continue until March.
Temporary traffic lights will be in operation during the works, which will focus on 200m at a time.
Several adjoining roads may be temporarily closed during the works.
A statement from engineers Cadent said: “This £640,000 investment by Cadent, which manages the North West’s 21,000-mile underground gas network, will end increasingly-frequent visits – and therefore roadworks – to repair this ageing pipe.
“Cadent has sent teams to fix issues with the metallic main 23 times in the last 10 years.
“Installed just before the Second World War began, it runs directly underneath the road surface, so a detailed plan has been prepared to keep everyone safe and limit the amount of disruption.
“Work is set to begin on 9 November and is expected to complete in March. On-site work will stop completely for several weeks for the Christmas ‘stand down’ period – when Sefton Council asks utilities to stop all but emergency roadworks in the area – and resume in January.
“The section of pipe that’s being replaced with tough, durable plastic stretches from outside Victoria Methodist Church to just beyond Tithebarn Road.
“The teams will work only on 200 metres at a time, with traffic lights controlling the safe movement of vehicles around the work area. Some of the adjoining side roads will be closed for a few days, when the work crosses them, and diversion routes will be signposted when this happens.
Access will be maintained to all properties and businesses – all of which remain open.”
“This is an old pipe, a workhorse of the gas network installed some 90 years ago,” said Craig Horrocks, who heads Cadent’s gas mains replacement programme in North West England. “It is though starting to show signs of its age and must now be replaced to ensure safety and reliability.”
He added: “We’ve worked closely with Sefton Council to come up with a plan that minimises the inevitable disruption that happens with major engineering work like this. We know it’s not ideal and I really appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we get this essential work done.”
Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “This is yet another example of great partnership work between Cadent and our highways network team at Sefton Council.
“There should be no interruption to local supplies, except for 60 properties along the road that will temporarily lose supply for less than a day.
“We have made sure access will remain to all properties and businesses, which can stay open with minimal disruption.
“Ourselves and our partners remain committed to ensuring Sefton soon becomes a net zero emissions borough and to that end plans are at an advanced stage to introduce green gases like hydrogen to the gas network soon.”
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