Cordon put up at Gallions Reach shopping park after gas mains fracture
Royal Docks Road where gas mains fractured 12ft under junction with Armarda Way by Gallions Reach centre. Picture source: Google - Credit: Google
A fractured gas mains caused traffic congestion when an area next to Gallions Reach shopping centre in Beckton had to be sealed off.
Passers-by alerted police during last night’s rush-hour when they smelt gas in the air along Armada Way, close to the A1020 Royal Docks Road leading to the North Circular.
Emergency services threw up a 300ft safety zone and closed Royal Docks Road and one of the entrances to the shopping park close to the Tesco superstore as a precaution, although the centre was able to stay open.
A specialist unit was brought in from East Ham fire station with detection equipment testing for escaping gas before the ‘all clear’ was given. Crew from Plaistow, Dagenham and Ilford fire-stations were on standby through the night.
“There was a strong smell of gas when we got there,” Plaistow fire crew manager Ian Robinson told the Newham Recorder.
You may also want to watch:
“The 100m radius exclusion zone was a safety measure as there’s always a risk of ignition from cigarettes or passing cars. The area cordoned off lead to the North Circular which affected traffic.”
The operation involved the Fire Brigade, Met Police, TfL and Cadent Gas which operates the mains network in the area.
Most Read
- 1 Tributes to Newham cop who died after positive Covid-19 test
- 2 Covid vaccination hub opening in Westfield next week
- 3 Police release image after teenager stabbed in Forest Gate robbery
- 4 NHS nurse assaulted at east London hospital
- 5 Labour Party investigates second Newham councillor over antisemitism
- 6 What a load of old rubbish: Fly-tippers keep charity staff out of building
- 7 Arrests after girl, 16, falls onto tracks at King George V DLR
- 8 Newham housing association offers homes to Hackney Council with £10m price tag
- 9 One in 20 may have had Covid-19 last week in Redbridge, Newham and Barking and Dagenham, figures suggest
- 10 Stratford dance and music hub gets £700k boost
The mains gas pressure was reduced while engineers worked through the night repairing the fracture. The cordon was lifted early this-morning.
The Cadent engineers are still working on the leaking main. The company said: “Royal Docks Road was closed last night after our engineers uncovered a leak on a large 48ins medium pressure pipe. This is a complex repair on a gas main about 12ft deep and is likely to take several days.”
Traffic diversions were set up, but no evacuations were needed. Royal Docks Road remains closed northbound while repairs continue.
