UPDATE: Crown Road gas mains repair work next to Eastgate Centre in Inverness set to be extended after 'multiple repairs' to old metallic pipe – with further work likely in new year
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COMPLEX work on an ageing stretch of gas mains pipe in the heart of the Highland capital is set to be extended.
The work at Crown Road – next to one of the Eastgate Shopping Centre car park entrances – had been due due to be completed tonight (Friday).
However it has emerged that the work – started on Tuesday due to a suspected gas leak – was more complex than anticipated and will now continue until Sunday, December 18, all being well.
RELATED: Engineers working to fix gas main next to Eastgate Centre
Waseem Hanif, spokesperson for gas company SGN, told us: "Our engineers have made multiple repairs to our gas main in the Crown Road area of Inverness.
"Due to the condition of this old metallic gas main, it is necessary to replace it with new modern plastic pipe for safety and to reduce the overall inconvenience and disruption of potential future repairs.
"The two-way temporary traffic lights will remain in place in Crown Road to allow us to safely replace a priority section of 100m of this gas main. We aim to complete this work by Sunday, 18 December however, this is a complex engineering project so delays are possible.
"There will be no access to Eastgate shopping centre car park from Crown street throughout, but access is maintained from Millburn Road."
He said that a further 200m section of main also needs to be replaced, "however we can delay this until after the festive period".
More details will be available once this work is planned in close consultation with the local authorities.
He said: "We’d like to thank the local community for your ongoing support and patience."
Highland Council meanwhile appealed to motorists to avoid the traffic light controlled area unless essential "as queues may be likely".
