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 - Friday 10 January
All our work to replace old, leaking pipes in Garratt Lane has finished, and we completed our reinstatement process, to restore the areas we disturbed to their original condition, earlier this week. As a result, we have removed our temporary traffic lights along Garratt Lane and reactivated the fixed signals at the junction of Earlsfield Road and Magdalen Road.
We recognise our pipe replacement project in Garratt Lane has been particularly disruptive, and want to thank residents, businesses and commuters for your patience while this essential work to keep nearby properties safe and warm long into the future took place.
Magdalen Road will be safe to reopen to motorists by Sunday 12 January following our work at this location.
We do have a small section of gas network to be replaced along nearby Penwith Road at its junction with Ravensbury Terrace and Duntshill Road. This phase of work started on Monday 6 January and is expected to last approximately three weeks. During this time, and to ensure everyone’s safety, this junction will be closed to motorists and a signed diversion will be in place. Access for residents and businesses only will be maintained here, and at Penwith Road’s junction with Garratt Lane.
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.
