Motorists are being warned that a four month road closure will be in place from Monday for 'essential gas works'.

School buses will also be diverted as the full road closure is in place

The road closure will impact the Dove Bank Road area in Little Lever ­— and gas supply should not be affected during the 16 weeks of work.

The road will be shut from July 8.

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Mark Syers, Head of Cadent’s Investment Planning Office (North West), said: “This is essential work to divert one of our underground pipelines, as part of our obligations to keep the gas network operating in a safe and reliable way.

“When this section of pipe was installed, many years ago, the area was much less developed.

"With growth and new buildings now in proximity, we have assessed the best long-term solution is to move it.

“The works involves installing around 1200 metres of new pipe and then abandonment of the old section.

“We only stop gas going through the old section when the new pipe is live and operating, so there should be no interruption to anyone's gas supply.

“Years in the planning, we started work on this project about six weeks ago, in Tong Road.

"This has been managed under traffic lights.

“However, as we move onto Radcliffe Road, from 8th July, we will require a full road closure, given the nature of the road layout.

“We have agreed a diversion route with Bolton Council and it will be signposted. We ask that people budget extra time for their journeys and thank everyone in advance for bearing with us.

“If you smell gas during these works, please do not assume it is related. It may not be and needs to be checked. Act immediately and call the gas emergency service, day or night, on 0800 111 999. All calls are recorded and may be monitored.”

Vehicles will be prohibited from travelling on Dove Bank Road to Hill Top, Park Road, Park Road from Dove Bank Rd to Windermere Rd, Radcliffe Road from Dove Bank Rd to Crows Nest.

Alternate route for traffic will be Long Lane, Bury Road, Radcliffe Moor Road, Countess Lane High Street, Marsh Road.

Little Lever School has put out a notice to parents about the road works and changes to the school bus route until the end of term and has advised parents of the revised route.

If recycling bins are due to be emptied during the works put them at the nearest accessible point.

This will ensure that bins can be emptied on the usual collection day.

The Bolton News reported in May that more than a century old pipes supplying gas to Bolton are in line for a £80M upgrade.

Cadent, which manages the region’s gas network, will modernise around 420,000 metres of its North West pipeline over the next 12 months – including across the borough.