Cadent set to abandon disruptive Cookham gas works and ‘re-programme project’

A company carrying out disruptive gas works in Cookham has announced it will be postponing the project and restarting later in the year. 

Cadent Gas was set to continue works in Sutton Road through until late March, but has now said it will wrap up work by Sunday, January 19.

Drivers have battled long delays and gridlock at peak times since work to replace gas pipes in the village began earlier this week.

A Cadent spokesperson said the company had ‘decided to halt work to ensure the security of gas supplies in the area’.

The company is set to finish the works on Monday, January 13.

It said the temporary four-way traffic lights in Sutton Road - and a manual light system at Cookham Bridge – will be removed by Sunday, January 19.

Problems stemming from the gas works saw traffic tailbacks stretching towards Maidenhead and across the River Thames into Bourne End.

The Royal Borough council’s cabinet member for highways, Councillor Geoff Hill said congestion problems had been made worse by ‘dangerous’ drivers jumping red lights at Cookham Bridge.  

A spokesperson for Cadent said: “We have assessed the work we were doing to replace a section of gas pipes along Sutton Road, Cookham and after further discussions, we have decided to halt work to ensure the security of gas supplies in the area and re-programme the project to be completed in the summer.

“We did adapt the traffic management over the bridge and we will ensure future traffic management will include this amendment to ensure traffic continues to flow and the traffic lights are manned at appropriate. 

“The current work will be finished on Monday 13 January and all traffic management will be removed by close of play 19 January.

“We trust that residents and road users can be understanding and patient with us a little longer.”