KING Street in Middlewich is set to be closed for 11 weeks while work is done to replace a gas main.

The closure of A530 King Street, which starts on Monday, June 23, is thought to spark traffic chaos during the 11 week period as the road is more than three miles long and is the main route through the town to the M6.

The work on the road will be carried out by the National Grid and will see a 576 metre length cast iron gas main replaced with a modern plastic pipe.

Stephen Murray, from the National Grid, said: “People in Middlewich enjoy a safe and reliable gas supply and our job is to make sure it stays that way.

“The new section of main we are laying in King Street will last at least 80 years so while there will be some traffic delays in the short term, the long term benefit will be mains which will last for many decades to come.

“We have been working with Cheshire East Council in planning this work.”

The section of main being replaced runs from the chicken farm to King Street Hall Farm with the junction with Croxton Lane.

While King Street remains closed, traffic will be diverted along the following route: A556/Penny Lane/Holmes Chapel Road/B5081/Centurion Way and Holmes Chapel Road/Kinderton St/St Michael Way/Middlewich Road/Bostock Road/A553.

A video which shows what people can expect to see during the operation to renew gas mains in their street can be viewed on Google or YouTube by entering National Grid Gas Mains Replacement (UK) in the search box.

The work comes as part of £22billion programme from the National Grid in which it will be renewing around 430km of gas mains in the north west over the next twelve months.

For more information on the work and how it will affect you, contact the National Grid on 0161 703 1000.