The £750,000 transformation going on below the surface one of Manchester's busiest roads

A massive transformation costing £750,000 is underway in Manchester - and is being completed below the surface of one of Manchester's busiest roads.

Major engineering works to install a new gas pipeline, mostly under Ashton Old Road in Openshaw, is one of the biggest projects being taken on by gas network Cadent this year. The works began in April and aim to keep the road open to traffic despite the construction.

The £750,000 project will boost the local gas network, says Cadent, to meet demand from 13,500 homes as well as commercial and industrial sites. The pipeline will also meet demand from a power generation site, which uses gas to drive turbines that create electricity.

This project is a direct response to new developments around Manchester City’s nearby Etihad Stadium. These are close to where existing gas pipelines and pressure stations are currently situated. The new pipes reinforce those.

The project promises to 'future-proof' the gas network, says Cadent. The big, new polyethylene pipes are capable of safely carrying hydrogen, the introduction of which is key to local and national targets to reduce carbon emissions to net zero.

The work began on Cornwall Street and then extended around New Smithfield Market. Cadent workers have moved into the city-bound lanes to complete the works, but traffic has been flowing both ways and access to businesses has been maintained.

Cadent has issued an update on its progress this week. Vaclav Franek, who is managing this project for Cadent, said: “This is a big project, and vital for us to ensure gas keep flowing to a wide area of Manchester.

“More than 80 per cent of local homes use gas for heating, and – in this case – it is also needed to create electricity at various