WALES & West Utilities is set to start a £23,000 gas pipe investment scheme in the Queens Square area of Dolgellau.

Starting on 24 April, the work will involve upgrading 160m of old metal pipes to new plastic ones on Queen Square, Lion Street and Green Lane. The company anticipates the work will be completed by the summer.

Wales & West Utilities has worked closely with Gwynedd Council in planning the work to keep disruption to the local community and local road users to a minimum.

For ease, the work has been divided into two phases.

Phase 1 will start on 24 April at Queens Square and should take four weeks to finish. During this phase there will be a road closure on Lion Street from Y Sospan Bwyty restaurant to the junction of Lion Yard. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

Phase 2 of our work will continue on Lion Street. This work will start on 22 May and, barring any unforeseen engineering difficulties, it should take four weeks to complete.

Lion Street will be closed during this time from the Royal Ship Hotel to junction of Lion Yard and Bridge Street. Green Lane will also be closed. Diversion routes will be in place and clearly signposted. Access will be maintained for pedestrians.

Wales & West Utilities operational manager Andrew Dransfield said: “We know that working on roads like these is not ideal but it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future. We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible.

“We’re very aware of the affect our work can have on communities and commuters and we’ve worked closely with Gwynedd Council to ensure this essential work is done while causing the least inconvenience.”

As part of the project, old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being upgraded to new plastic ones to make sure homes and businesses receive a safe and reliable gas supply.