Major route to Anfield closed during Liverpool v Arsenal match due to emergency gas works

A major route to Anfield will be closed during Liverpool's home match this weekend due to emergency gas works.

Queens Drive, at the junction with East Prescot Road, will be closed from Friday evening in order to repair a gas main that runs underneath.

The issue was identified a few months ago and two stages of the work has already been carried out but closures over the Bank Holiday weekend are necessary to finish the repairs.

Cadent, which manages the North West’s gas mains, will move in after rush-hour on Friday and work 24/7 until early next week.

Queens Drive is known as one of the main routes used to travel around the city so anyone planning to drive this way to the Liverpool v Arsenal match at Anfield is asked to find a different route to avoid closures and traffic.

The leak is on a section of the old cast iron main which sits directly under the big junction of the two main roads.

The repair plan, devised by Cadent in conjunction with Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police, has aimed to keep unavoidable disruption to a minimum.

To keep everyone safe – workers and motorists – two of Queens Drive’s three lanes will be closed.

Reminders will appear on road signs on the approaches to the area.

According to Cadent, the engineers will attempt to keep ‘noisier’ work limited to daytime only with the intention to be off-site and everything back to normal early next week.

Lee Rowland, head of operations for Cadent in the North West, said: “The location of this couldn’t be more challenging – the leak is coming from a section of the gas main that’s right under the middle of the junction.

“We’ve agreed to go in and fix it this weekend, over the weekend, at the request of Liverpool City Council.

"We’re trying to keep disruption to a minimum.

“If you know this area you will know there are other ways into and out of the city, so our advice is to use these, or budget extra time for your journeys.

"This includes traffic heading to Liverpool’s home game with Arsenal.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience while we get this work done – we know it is not ideal, but it is essential work to keep everyone safe.”

Gas supplies should not be affected. If you smell gas, do not dismiss it as connected to this work. Report it immediately to 0800 111 999*