Forfar drivers are facing months of diversions due to a major gas project that will affect one of the town’s busiest streets.
The 15-week scheme will involve the closure of parts of East High Street throughout, with traffic completely banned in the project’s early stages.
The works are due to begin at the start of 2020. SGN officials will set out the proposals at events in Forfar on Friday and Saturday and have encouraged local residents and businesses to attend.
Spokesman Waseem Hanif said: “This essential work involves the replacement of old, metal gas mains with new plastic pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply.
“In agreement with Angus Council, our project will start on Monday January 6 and last approximately 15 weeks.
“It will involve temporary road closures in East High Street and temporary traffic lights at the North Street/Arbroath Road/East High Street junction.”
The gas network company said the project had been split into five phases in an effort to minimise inconvenience.
The first phase will involve the complete closure of East High Street between the East Port and Queen Street. Three-way traffic lights will be installed at the busy East Port junction and will be manually controlled at peak times, SGN said.
A second section of East High Street, from Queen Street to Couttie’s Wynd, is scheduled to close from January 27.
Eastbound traffic bans will come into force on various sections of East High Street on Feburary 17, March 16 and then April 6.
The town’s two main bus stops are located on East High Street and SGN said temporary alternatives would have to be put in place.
Mr Hanif said teams would be working five days a week, between 8am and 4pm, with extended hours and at weekends when required.
SGN embarked on major works around the East Port/Arbroath Road area in October. These are scheduled for completion by December 6.
Angus Council communities convener Mark Salmond urged locals and businesses to have patience during the works.
“I recognise this will be taking place over a number of weeks, but it is an essential project,” said the Montrose independent councillor.
“It’s a busy street but the project has been set up by SGN to try and keep disruption to a minimum and diversions will be in place so I would ask for forbearance from those affected by the works.”
The public information events will be held at Studio 132, 132 East High Street, on Friday from 10am to 7pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
