Work is due to start next month on a £1.3m sewer upgrade in part of Darlington, as Northumbrian Water embarks on a project to protect the environment.
The company has set July 5 as the date to start work on replacing an existing pipe that runs from Lemon Grove to North Road, with innovative trenchless technology being utilised in areas to minimise the impact on traffic.
This involves digging two pits at either side of the road and drilling horizontally between them, removing the need to dig up the road itself. This will allow the A167 to continue to flow freely, as well as keeping the entrance to Lemon Grove open. In other areas, where the impact on traffic is lower, traditional trench digging will take place, with traffic management and short-term closures in place on sections of Mayfair Road.
Additionally, working with Darlington Borough Council, Northumbrian Water will also carry out localised surface water drainage work at the junction of Lime Avenue and Mayfair Road. This will help improve the way rain water is dispersed from the area, reducing the chances of flooding during storm conditions.
Customers in the area will be kept up to date when traffic is affected near them, and this information will also be available on Northumbrian Water’s online community portal at www.nwlcommunityportal.co.uk. Once on the site, visitors should follow the link to the Harrowgate Hill Rising Main page.
Project Manager Peter Greenan said: “We are working hard to minimise disruption, using innovative technology to reduce the impact on the local roads and planning carefully when any measures are required.
“This is an important project for the area, as upgrading the local sewer network will help to reduce the risk of flooding or pollution, protecting customers and the environment.”