Iwade, Sheppey Way

SGN Gas Network Upgrades - Iwade, The Street – Update Wednesday 30 September 

Following trial holes completed this week, we can now confirm the arrangements needed to complete our gas network reinforcement project. 

Following discussions with local stakeholders and Kent County Council, we have planned this work to begin during the school half-term period to help reduce the impact on traffic, schools and local journeys. The trial holes have also enabled us to confirm that the work can be completed within the planned timeframe. 

For everyone's safety, The Street will be closed in the area of our excavations for the duration of the work. Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place, and access to residents' properties will be maintained throughout. 

Work is due to begin on Monday 26 October, and we currently expect to complete the project and reopen the road by Friday 6 November. We'll be making every effort to finish sooner if possible, recognising the impact this closure may have on local journeys when schools return. 

Bus services will be affected by the road closure, and we recommend that passengers contact their local bus operators for details of any temporary changes to routes or bus stops while our work is underway. We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause. 

This project will reinforce our gas network and help ensure we can continue to provide a safe and reliable gas supply to homes and businesses across the Iwade community. 

Gas Network Upgrades – The Street Iwade -Update Monday 31 August

Although we have successfully installed the new section of pipe required for this project, we have been unable to complete the final stage of our gas network reinforcement on The Street, Iwade.

When investigating the planned connection point, we discovered the area is heavily congested with existing underground utilities, including other pipes and cables. Unfortunately, there is not enough space to safely carry out the connection works at this location.

We had explored the possibility of continuing excavations further along the road to identify an alternative connection point, using temporary traffic lights to manage traffic. However, following further assessment, this would not provide a safe traffic management arrangement for road users or our workforce.

As of Friday 28 August, the road is now reopened, but we will now need to investigate alternative options for completing this reinforcement project or plan to return at a later date to undertake the remaining work.

We understand this will be disappointing news, particularly after the disruption caused by the works, and we would like to thank residents, businesses and the wider Iwade community for their patience and understanding throughout this project.

 Once we have identified a suitable solution and confirmed our next steps, we will contact residents and key stakeholders with further information about the remaining work.

We're sorry for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your continued patience and support.

We've encountered some engineering difficulties while installing the new gas main along The Street as we continue to upgrade our gas network in the Iwade area.

To ensure access remains open for residents' car parks, our engineers have been working in small sections, which limits our progress. The team have also had to excavate carefully around electric cables and underground infrastructure, adding to the time required to complete this phase safely.

Following discussions with Kent County Council and National Highways, we've agreed to extend the road closure here until Monday 24 August. However, we're working as quickly as we can and we'll reopen the road earlier if conditions allow. Please continue to check this page for updates.

Thank you to the local community for your continued patience and understanding while we complete this essential work to keep everyone safe and warm.