About our work
We're continuing to replace the old metal gas pipe in Garratt Lane due to a history of leaks from this section of our gas network. Once it has been replaced, we will be able to ensure that we can continue provide a more reliable gas supply.
Our engineers have been working in Garratt Lane, Earlsfield Road and Penwith Road this autumn and we will be upgrading our pipes into early 2025.
This is a complex engineering project and we've been working hard to get this completed as soon as possible while ensuring there is no disruption to the gas supply to thousands of properties across Wandsworth and beyond.
We recognise roadworks can be frustrating for residents, businesses, road users and commuters. However, once our work is complete, the Wandsworth community will be able to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come. We do really appreciate the patience and understanding shown while we've been carrying out this essential work.
Update - Tuesday 24 December
Our engineers are continuing essential network upgrades in the A217 Garratt Lane area to ensure nearby properties continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.
Following our update on Friday 20 December, which indicated the pressure complications we experienced while we carried out an operation last week and enacted a temporary solution, we were unable to complete all our engineering work by Monday 23 December as planned. We're on site today continuing our pipe replacement work, but will pause for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The site will continue to be manned during this period to ensure the site remains safe and traffic can safely pass the temporary lights that will remain in operation. We'll continue to monitor the area for gas readings to ensure the ongoing safety of all residents and businesses nearby, too.
Work will recommence on Friday 27 December. Our engineers will begin the final 80-metre section of work between the Tara Theatre and Wandle Pub.
Reinstatement of our excavations to install the new pipes in Penwith Road, near its junction with Garratt Lane, is ongoing. Pending the completion of this work, from Monday 6 January, our engineers will then move to Penwith Road's four-way junction with Ravensbury Terrace and Strathville Road. We'll be working here for approximately three weeks. For everyone's safety, Penwith Road will be shut at this junction. Signed diversions will be in place will the closure is in place.
Over the course of the last eight weeks, we have decommissioned 820 metres of our old metal pipes and installed 606 metres of new plastic pipe. Under non-urgent circumstances, this would take an expected four to six months to complete.
We'd like to pass on our sincere thanks to the local community for your patience and understanding while we've been carrying out this essential work. We wish you a Merry Christmas.
The sections of gas main being replaced are old metal pipes that have had multiple repairs. Replacing them with new plastic pipes will provide a permanent solution to address ongoing disruption caused by leaks. These gas pipelines not only service properties in the immediate area but provide a critical supply of gas to a large area of Wandsworth.
There are many reasons why we are not able to work at night on infrastructure of this size.
- Safety is our priority – our engineers are working with live gas flowing at a significant pressure.
- Risk mitigation – other critical infrastructure is located underground, which presents an increased risk of loss of supplies when working in night-time conditions and with less visibility. During the day, response teams are on hand if needed.
- Service connections – to speed up progress, we’re carrying out service connections to properties as we install new sections. This requires access to homes, which wouldn’t be suitable at night.
There are many reasons why engineers may not be visible on site.
- Local pressure testing – during the installation process, we need to maintain local pressures in the gas network. This needs engineers to be off site at multiple governor locations to monitor/adjust local pressures within the network. This is essential to maintain local gas supplies.
- Resurfacing – we may also not be present when resurfacing is carried out and curing of road surfaces are required.
- Collection of materials – we may need to leave site to collect parts and materials for the following day, which cannot be stored on site.
- Completed work – when further engineering works are not possible until the following day, continuing to work would take our team over their permitted working hours. This would go against safety restrictions of night-time working and mandatory fatigue restrictions enforced by the government.
To maintain network supply, we are required to work in shorter sections and extra engineers will not speed up operations.
This is not possible due to us working on a live gas supply. We can only work on short sections at a time and are unable to isolate the gas main in multiple locations as this would result in a failure to the flow of gas through our network – these mains feed a critical supply of gas to a large area of your community.
