Update - Friday 1 May
Our gas network upgrades along A281 Horsham Road are progressing well having already installed 120m of new plastic pipe. This is despite experiencing some engineering difficulties on site, after a build-up of debris was identified inside our old infrastructure. The debris meant we needed to alter our approach: we could no longer insert the new pipe as originally planned, requiring open-cut trenching to install it instead. Our engineers have worked hard to keep the project on schedule.
A trial of new temporary traffic light technology, designed to automatically adjust timings based on traffic levels, didn’t perform as well as expected and we immediately replaced them with our standard lights. Two operatives are on site managing the signals to help keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible.
There will be a reduced presence on site from Saturday 2 until Wednesday 6 May as we work to restore the road surfaces we’ve disturbed to their original condition. The lights will remain in operation while reinstatement takes place, before being temporarily removed on Thursday 7 May to enable voters to reach polling stations.
From Wednesday 6 May, we’ll need to close Links Road at its junction with the A281. Residents will still be able to access their homes via the lane to Bramley Golf Club, and a signed diversion route will be in place. The closure is needed to safely carry out connection work in Links Road and to provide a small, temporary storage area at the junction only.
Unfortunately, due to the revised pipe installation method, we won’t be able to remove our traffic lights for the village fete on Saturday 16 May. We’ll do everything we can to ensure everyone can safely and efficiently move through the village that day.
We’re preparing to carry out essential upgrades to our gas network in the Shalford and Bramley areas. This work will help ensure that homes and businesses continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply and forms part of our long-term programme to replace ageing metal gas mains with modern, durable plastic pipes.
We’ll begin work on Monday 23 March, with the project expected to last approximately 35 weeks.
We’ll be replacing our gas pipes in sections along the A281 Horsham Road and Chinthurst Lane. Please see below for more information including the traffic restrictions that will be in place.
Please note we will remove all traffic management for one day on Thursday 7 May to allow voters to easily reach polling stations during the planned local elections.
Following community feedback, we'll also remove our traffic lights on Saturday 16 May for the Bramley Village Fete. Our team will be attending the fete to answer any questions about our work and provide information about how we can support for vulnerable people.
Chinthurst Lane, Shalford
Road closure from Monday 23 March for approximately 10 weeks
Chinthurst Lane will be closed in sections between its junction with The Common to around 100m past the junction with Poplar Road. This will be a rolling road closure which will move along the road with our engineers as they replace the gas pipes.
During this phase, Poplar Road will need to be closed at its junction with Chinthurst Lane for approximately two weeks when we reach this section.
A281 Horsham Road, Bramley to Shalford
Traffic lights from Tuesday 7 April for approximately 32 weeks
We’ll be working along Horsham Road, starting at the junction with Snowdenham Lane and Station Road in Bramley, and finishing just short of the junction with Broadford Road in Shalford. Temporary traffic lights will be in place moving along as our work progresses.
To help maintain traffic flow, we will also need to temporarily close the following side roads, one at a time as our work progresses along the A281:
- Snowdenham Lane, Links Road and Foxburrow Hill Road.
At times as we pass other junctions, we may need to install additional traffic light heads.
To help reduce queuing times on this busy route, a traffic management operative will be manually controlling our lights from Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm.
In consultation with Surrey County Council, we’ll also be trialling REMOS traffic lights during this phase of work to help reduce disruption. These lights use real-time monitoring to automatically adjust their timings based on traffic levels, allowing traffic to flow more efficiently.
Public drop-in session
We will be holding a public drop-in session for residents to view project maps, understand the planned works, and ask any questions.
Date: Thursday 5 March
Time: 6pm to 7.30pm
Location: Bramley Village Hall, Hall Road, Bramley GU5 0AX
We recognise roadworks can be frustrating, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this essential work may cause. However, the new plastic pipe has a lifespan of 80 years, which means when the work is complete, nearby residents and businesses will be able to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply long into the future.