Utilities and street works

I met Thames Water today. They liked the idea that pipes and cables ought to be placed in a conduit adjacent to the highway but not under a main road, to avoid having to dig up the road and close it every time they need to maintain, mend or improve the system. They agreed that with new development it would be particularly easy to route utilities away from the main roads and to have them in a common carrier with controlled access, and that where replacements are being deployed there is also scope to reduce the amount going under main roads. I look forward to more progress.

3 Comments

  1. Robert Betteridge
    March 13, 2018

    We have the technology to make digging up roads obsolete. Moles do it all the time! A remote tunneler, pipe construction and repair from within is quite feasible.

  2. Kevin Lohse
    March 13, 2018

    I take it that’s separate conduits for energy and water? Furthermore, conduits will have to cross main roads in our heavily built-up conurbations. If the top coverings are easily removable for repairs/maintainance, that in itself will incur extra cost. Anyone done any research on the costs of business as usual against conduits?

    1. Kevin Lohse
      March 13, 2018

      Sorry, should have put telecoms cabling in with energy.

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