St Saviour’s Hill is expected to fully reopen this evening after engineers completed repairs to a leaking gas main which forced traffic diversions and overnight works.
Island Energy confirmed today that testing is underway before the road can be filled and resurfaced.
The leak was discovered after an islander called the company’s emergency line on Wednesday evening to report smelling gas.
Engineers traced it to the mains network near the junction of Deloraine Road and Chasse Brunet, with sections of St Saviour’s Hill subsequently closed to traffic.
Drivers heading uphill were diverted through Chasse Brunet, while those travelling downhill were sent via Bagatelle Road.
In its latest update, Island Energy said: “The work to repair the gas main at St Saviour’s Hill has now finished and testing is underway. Once our engineers have completed testing the network, the road will be filled and re-surfaced.”
It added: “We are expecting St Saviour’s Hill to be fully open this evening. While diversions remain in place while this essential work is carried out, we would like to thank residents, motorists and pedestrians for their patience and understanding.”
Engineers worked overnight on Wednesday to make the area safe, with repairs continuing yesterday.
St Saviour Constable Dave Curtis said yesterday afternoon that no residents had needed to leave their homes at that stage.
“We have an emergency response team at the parish hall if need be, but evacuations would be instigated by the police and Island Energy,” he said.
“We were informed of this by message at about 1am and we were ready to go down and support but we didn’t need to.”
The incident comes while large parts of Millennium Town Park remain dug up and cordoned off following a separate gas leak more than a month ago.
The area closed to the public has since expanded, with work understood to be continuing until the middle of next month.
Island Energy reminded anyone who smells gas or suspects an escape to call its 24-hour emergency line on 01534 755555.
