A major scheme to replace a gas main in Ryde is set to bring about 4-and-a-half months of travel disruption in the Haylands area of the town. From Monday (13th November), SGN will begin work to replace a gas main on Upton Road, between Pound Mead and Windmill Close. The initial phase has been advertised as an 18-day road closure running until 1st December. However, it has been confirmed that the works are going to extend well beyond that until the end of March next year – with a gap in the period around Christmas and New Year. Work to replace the aging metal gas main will be done in phases with engineers working their way South along Upton Road over a period of more than 4 months. This will see more traffic using Ashey Road and Smallbrook roundabout. Phase 1 will see the road closed around the clock between Pound Mead and Corbett Road. Phase 2 – between 8th January and 18th February – will result in the road being closed between 294 Upton Road to the junction with Bettesworth Road. Phase 3 will begin on 19th February and continue until 29th March between 263 Upton Road and Windmill Close. 
There will be no through access along Upton Road past the point of the phased closures. Vehicular access to Upton Road and side roads will be maintained via the signed diversion routes in place. Waseem Hanif, spokesperson for gas distribution company SGN, has said:
“We’re carrying out essential work to replace the old metal gas main in Upton Road with new modern plastic pipes. This will ensure we can continue to provide Ryde residents with a safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come. “Residents and the local community in Ryde will be aware of ongoing gas leaks on Upton Road. By replacing the gas main, we can minimise the risk of future leaks and disruptive emergency repairs. “We’d like to thank Ryde residents and motorists for your patience and understanding”.
Commenting on the scheme, a spokesperson for Island Roads has said:
“As a utility company, SGN has a legal right to carry out maintenance and improvement work on the network. In this case, they are undertaking a major upgrade in their infrastructure. Island Roads’s role is to liaise with utility companies to seek to minimise disruption. “In this case it is not possible to undertake the work without a full road closure. We have liaised with SGN and they will be undertaking the work in phases to minimise disruption. This means that while the road will be closed as a through road, access will be maintained to resident as long as it is safe to do so. “For further information on utility works and Island’s Roads’ role in respect of these, please visit https://islandroads.com/storage/2023/03/Utility-works-factsheet-web.pdf.
