Road works will close some town centre roads. Picture: James Bass.

WORK to replace 3.7km of underground gas mains in Great Yarmouth reaches its final, but potentially most disruptive stage, as engineers move into the town centre.

It means closing the bus station and relocating stops, as well as a two-week road closure affecting deliveries to Market Gates and stores like Marks and Spencer.

The four-week scheme affecting Regent Street from the bus station to the junction with the Market Place starts on Monday, just as county council engineers crack on with two unrelated projects at Fullers Hill and Haven Bridge.

A road closure will be in place for two weeks from January 21 with a diversion route via Alexandra Road and Yarmouth Way back onto South Quay.

Town centre manager Jonathan Newman said it had the potential to be the most disruptive phase in a year-long programme of works that had been successfully managed by the National Grid and Norfolk County Council to avoid peak season upset.

He said: “It is the first time traffic management has had to be used so close to the town centre retail area.

“My concern is that the buses will be channelled through the left hand lane with the cars. We do not know quite how it will go until the first morning.”

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: “We have had extensive liaison with National Grid and their contractors regarding work methods/timing, and traffic management, and have carried out extensive consultation and information releases within the town.

“The last phase was publicised with a customer information bus in the Market Place on Wednesday.

“Bus and taxi services will be maintained through the Market Gates area throughout, although some stops will be relocated. All businesses remain open.”

National Grid announced last February its intention to upgrade 3.7km in 11 key streets including along the Golden Mile and busy Regent Road - the hub of the town’s holiday trade, as well as historic South Quay which stages the popular Maritime Festival, sparking concern.

The scheme replaces iron mains with new, hard-wearing plastic pipes that will last for more than 80 years if left undisturbed in the ground.

Meanwhile Norfolk County Council is replacing footways across Haven Bridge from Monday. The first four week phase will see an in-bound lane closure coming from Pasteur Road/Bridge Road, followed by the outbound side from approximately February 11.

Engineers will also be working on a traffic signal upgrade at the Fullers Hill/Northgate Street junction.

Phase one runs from Monday to January 28 when the Northgate Street crossing will be closed and pedestrian signing will be in place directing to an existing crossing on Fullers Hill.

During phase two the main lights at Fullers Hill will be turned off and a temporary set installed. The existing crossing on Fullers Hill will be closed and a temporary crossing installed on Northgate Street with pedestrian diversions to Northgate Street and the existing crossing on Priory Plain.

The right turn lane into Northgate from Priory Plain/town centre will be closed off weekdays throughout, and traffic for Northgate diverted around Fullers Hill roundabout.