Rye, Rye Road

We’re working to replace old, metal gas mains with new plastic pipe. This will ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to Merton homes and businesses.

Our contractors I&G Contractors will be carrying out this work on our behalf with support from our dedicated project manager.

As we are renewing the pipe in Military Road and Rye Road, your gas supply may be temporarily interrupted while we carry out the section nearby to your property. We will try to keep any interruptions to a minimum, and we’ll let you know in advance if your gas supply is likely to be affected by our upgrade work.

We’ve planned this project in close consultation with East Sussex Highways.

While we understand there’s no ideal time to carry out our work, we need to replace this old gas main. The gas pipe at the location has been identified as needing to be replaced given its age and condition.

This cast iron main is at a high risk of failure and it’s essential we replace it now. A failure would significantly impact the area, involve emergency road closures, potential evacuations of properties and loss of supplies.

Our Military Road and Rye Road project forms part of a programme of work developed by the Health and Safety Executive which addresses the failure of “at risk” iron gas mains. Pipes within 30 metres of buildings must be decommissioned or replaced before 2032 to reduce the risk of injuries, fatalities and building damage.

The section of gas main in question is one of our high priority ‘mandatory mains’, and as such needs to be replaced by the end of March 2020. East Sussex Highways initially granted us permission to commence the replacement at the start of January 2020, however, due to other utility works we had to postpone our project until Monday 2 March.

Throughout the planning process we’ve been in close liaison with East Sussex Highways, and following concerns raised by the local community and stakeholders, a meeting was held with East Sussex Highways and our contractor, I&G, on Thursday 27 February. Following discussions, East Sussex Highways requested we start our project on Monday 23 March.

We fully understand how works of this nature can cause disruption to local communities and traders. While initially the project was planned for six weeks, after listening to the concerns of the local community and stakeholders, we’ve agreed to compress the works to four weeks. 

The timing of the project is based on availability of the road space, local considerations such as schools, seasonal impacts to businesses, and the type of excavation required. This has all been approved by East Sussex Highways, who own the road and are satisfied with the timings and current traffic management system. Local seasonal trade, businesses, available road space granted by the local authority and most of all safety is also considered. For all these reasons and those above, the work does need to be carried out at this time to ensure the safety and security of both our network and for all local residents - as with all of our traffic management activities.

Phase one: Military Road will be closed to motorists at its junction with Rye Road. We will also need to install temporary two-way traffic lights around our work area in Rye Road for everyone’s safety. Motorists looking to enter Military Road will need to follow our signed diversion.

Once phase one is complete, we will move on to phase two - Rye Road will be closed at its junction with Bridge Place for everyone’s safety. Motorists looking to head along Rye Road will need to follow our signed diversion route.

We're aware that this is a traffic-sensitive location and would advise motorists to allow extra time for their journeys, or use alternative routes, while we carry out this work.

We’ll be posting updates on our progress, as well as keeping you updated if there’s any unexpected changes to our project, on this webpage.
 

Cyclists should follow our signed diversion routes in place. However, as pedestrian access will be maintained throughout our project, cyclists may dismount and walk with their bicycle around our closure before continuing journeys.

Our engineers will be working the Easter Bank Holidays: Friday, Saturday and Monday.

I’m a resident and expecting a parcel to be delivered. Do I need to inform the delivery company about the road closure?

We’d advise you to notify your delivery company that there is a traffic diversion currently in place.

How do I find out if my bus service is affected because of the gas upgrade work in Rye Road?

We’re sorry for the inconvenience our road closure causes commuters on bus services serving Rye Road. Some bus stops may be suspended and relocated away from our work area for everyone’s safety and routes will be redirected around our closure.

We would encourage all commuters to please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey. You can find advice and the latest travel information from the local bus company, who are responsible for the diversion of any of their services.

Will businesses remain open and how can I access them?

All businesses will remain open as usual. To keep everyone safe, we need to close Rye Road to traffic around our work area, but you’ll still be able to access shops, homes and businesses on foot.

How is my business likely to be affected by the work?

We appreciate our essential work will impact local businesses and we’re doing all we can to support local traders during our upgrade project.

Pedestrian access to businesses is maintained and all shops in the area will remain open as usual throughout our work. Local small businesses which suffer a genuine loss of trade because of our work may qualify for our compensation scheme.

Emergency Services

Please be assured all category one responders have been notified of our works at this location and advised of the diversion routes in place.

CCTV and dangerous driving

We are unable to install CCTV and we do not have enforcement powers. If you feel someone is driving dangerously that may result in harm to others or themselves you should report this to the correct authorities.

HGVs ignoring diversion signs

As with all traffic management, it is there to instruct drivers. East Sussex Highways and SGN are not responsible for those drivers that choose to ignore road closures. During our notification process of these works, the closure was publically advertised. As such, mapping companies and Satellite Navigation companies are made aware of the closure and can push updates to mapping in vehicles which show this. HGVs would be made aware of these closures, and again if they chose to drive through the closure we can’t stop them.

Who can I contact for more information on the work?

If you have any queries regarding our work in Rye, please call our Customer Service team on 0800 912 0804.

Contacting the project team with a separate query?

Please call our Customer Service team on 0800 912 0804.