Bus companies braced for 10 months of disruption on Hills Road in Cambridge during major gas works
Work to install new gas pipes in Cambridge that is set to last 10 months could “significantly impact” the viability of key city bus routes, a report reveals.
The work, which includes replacing ageing gas pipes in Station Road and Hills Road, will start on Monday, 23 June.
Gas company Cadent says it is liaising with Cambridgeshire County Council on the “most appropriate traffic management”.
However, the Cambridge Independent understands that bus operators are concerned about the impact on passengers.
A Stagecoach spokesperson said: “In truth, it is hard to know what the level of impact will be, but we are worried that it will be significant.
“I know that our operations people are working to put together a plan so that our customers are affected as little as possible.”
There was also some concern from bus operators about the notice given.
Cadent, which hosted a pop-up event on Friday (30 May), reported that it has been speaking to bus operators about the work since late 2024 and had invited them to the site.
But the Stagecoach spokesperson said: “This appears to be a case of misunderstanding on their part, and no such communication happened before the operators attended their pop-up event on Friday.”
Roadworks in Cambridge have long been a source of major frustration for bus companies.
A report to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority board meeting today (4 June) warns: “Ongoing roadworks significantly impact on the speed and operational efficiency of bus services, in turn impacting passengers and trust in bus services.”
Operators are liaising with the authority and county council, particularly over Hills Road, it states.
“It is the bus operators’ initial assessment that these works will significantly impact the viability of key bus routes running through Cambridge,” the report says.
The planned works involve the decommissioning of the current metallic gas pipes – which measure 1,400m – and installing tough new pipes which will last for decades.
The installation will take place in phases with the first stage beginning in Station Road. During this phase, one footpath will be closed for an expected six to eight weeks but two-way traffic will be maintained throughout. Phase two starts in Hills Road, close to The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs, running southbound to the start of the bus lane near the junction of Bateman Street.
During these works, two-way traffic will remain in place throughout, but the bus lane will have rolling closures in place, running around 100m at a time.
There will be some closures and diversions for side roads that connect with Hills Road. This work is scheduled to begin on Friday, 11 August and run for 12 weeks.
Phase three of the works takes place from the junction of Hills Road and Bateman Street and runs south beyond the junction with Station Road.
This will require the use of temporary traffic lights, but again, two-way traffic will run as normal with no road closure envisaged.
Work is scheduled to begin in late October/early November and run for 12 weeks. There will be no work taking place between 1 December and 5 January, Cadent says.
Phase four continues along Hills Road from just past the junction with Station Road up to the railway bridge. There is not expected to be any traffic management in place for this phase of work, which will last around six weeks.
In total, work is expected to last between 42 and 44 weeks.
Amber Greensmith, head of customer experience at Cadent, said: “This summer, we are starting work in Station Road and Hills Road, Cambridge, to replace existing iron gas pipes with new plastic ones which will futureproof our network and allow us to keep the gas flowing.
“We are working closely with the council and Cambridgeshire Highways to provide the most appropriate traffic management for this job.
“As part of this project, we also held a stakeholder event next to the Hills Road War Memorial.
“Residents and businesses have been visiting to ask any questions that were answered by our team.”
If residents were unable to attend the event last Friday and have questions, they can call Cadent on 0800 151 2404 to discuss.
“We are very conscious of the disruption roadworks cause and hope people understand this is necessary and essential work, to ensure everyone’s safety and maintain a reliable gas supply for your central heating systems,” Ms Greensmith added.
Cadent also warns that due to the nature of the work taking place, there will be times when the gas supply will be interrupted to properties along Station Road and Hills Road. It says gas supply is usually restored on the same day it goes off.
