NATIONAL Grid has been working to repair several gas leaks in Low Town which caused traffic disruption last week.
Long tailbacks were caused by emergency work following reports of the leaks in Underhill Street and Bridge Street on Wednesday of last week.
This week National Grid was working at off-peak hours between 9.30am and 4pm to permanently repair the pipeline and work looked set to continue all week.
Engineers were attempting to locate the leaks and repair and seal them by internally spraying the pipeline, which they can do for only 30 metres in either direction. They were also using a camera to help locate the leaks.
Stephanie van Rosse, a spokeswoman for National Grid, said there was no real health risk as the gas had been vented into the atmosphere to save it from going into people’s properties. She said that if there had been a risk people would have been evacuated from their homes.
“We are working with the highways authority and we’re trying to work with everyone for as little disruption as possible, especially with Christmas shopping,” she said.
Richard Suggett, Shropshire County Council’s co-ordination manager for south division, said: “Temporary traffic lights are in place and National Grid Gas have assured us they will try to limit their working times to off-peak only in order to minimise disruption.
“Unfortunately we are unable to give a completion date due to the emergency nature of these works.”
National Grid will also be carrying out further essential gas replacement work in the town next month as part of a £5 million project to replace old metal pipes with more durable plastic ones.
There was outrage among traders earlier this year when the town was almost brought to a standstill by numerous roadworks, and the work in Bridgnorth High Street was postponed.
It will now go ahead sometime between January 5 and 14 and will take around four weeks to complete.
Any business which suffers as a result of the planned work can apply for compensation for loss of profit under the Gas (Street Works) (Compensation of Small Businesses) regulations.