Quality nightshift

27/07/2007

Water workers are to work through the night to carry out essential work in Wearside.

Northumbrian Water is to invest a further £200,000 to upgrade three kilometres of water main from the south side of Monkwearmouth Bridge extending into Bridge Street and St Mary’s Way, Sunderland.  The work will begin on Monday 6 August 2007 and take six weeks to complete.

To maintain the flow of traffic through the day, work will be carried out during the night from 7.00pm to 6.30am.  During the period of overnight working the two southbound lanes and one of the three northbound lanes on the Monkwearmouth Bridge will be closed, and a single lane contraflow system will be in operation for southbound traffic.  The lane closures will be removed during the day.

Kevin Fleming, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: “During the next phase of work in the area of Bridge Street customers’ water supply will be maintained. 

“We are working closely with Sunderland City Council to plan the required traffic management and everything will be done to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.”

The water company has already invested £6.1 million to upgrade 90 kilometres of water main in Sunderland, including the City Centre, Hendon, areas of Grangetown and Hillview, Ashbrooke, Deptford and Millfield, improving tap water quality to 70,000 residents.

The work to upgrade water mains in Sunderland, which began in April 2005 and will be complete by the end of summer this year, will also safeguard water supplies for future generations.

If customers, especially those with special needs, have any queries or concerns they should ring the Northumbrian Water Customer Centre on 0845 717 1100.

Bogus callers are known to operate in Northumbrian Water’s supply area.  It is unlikely that anyone from the water company will need access into a customer’s property while this work is carried out.  If customers are in any doubt about the validity of a caller claiming to be from Northumbrian Water or the ‘water board’ they should ring the Northumbrian Water Customer Centre.

For further peace of mind customers can also register a password – if anyone from the water company needs to access a registered customer’s home they will know the password.  They should either ring the Customer Centre or log onto www.nwl.co.uk to register.