A ONE-WAY closure is being planned near Enniskillen to carry out important mains laying works amid increasing demand for gas conversions in the area.

Coming into effect from Monday, May 20, the one-way closure on Tempo Road will be in operation between the roundabout that connects with Cherrymount Link Road running to the junction that meets Wickham Place and Castlecoole Road. 

Town-bound traffic will be diverted along Crannog Way, Irvinestown Road and Dublin Road, with the works programme expected to run until late August. 

Evolve, the gas network operator for the west of Northern Ireland, has said that all stakeholders who may be affected by the works, including local residents, businesses and schools, have been notified. Access will be maintained for emergency services at all times.

Upon completion, many more homes and businesses in the area will be able to connect to the state-of-the-art Evolve network to instantly reduce their carbon emissions, while also enjoying the many other benefits of gas. 

Mark Davidson, Head of Engineering at Evolve, said: "We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the local community in advance for their cooperation during these upcoming works. As ever, we will continue to take every measure to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum and motorists are kindly advised to plan their journeys accordingly. 

"We are pleased that more homes and businesses in Enniskillen will soon be able to connect to our network to enjoy the immediate and long-term benefits of gas. With gas being cleaner and more efficient compared to solid fuel, our infrastructure will ultimately play a key role in decarbonising the west of Northern Ireland, particularly with recent biomethane developments in our network.”

The first-ever direct-to-grid injection of biomethane, a fully renewable energy source, took place within the Evolve network last year, in what was a landmark moment for the decarbonisation of energy. 

The integration of renewable and sustainable energy sources into existing gas grids is identified as a crucial step by government. Connecting to the gas network to take advantage of the plan to fully decarbonise the gas being used is a recommendation in the Northern Ireland Executive’s Path to Net Zero Energy Strategy.

For up-to-date information on roadworks in the Evolve network, visit evolvenetwork.co.uk/roadworks