Gas mains works to cause major disruption in Cambridge 2026

Key Points

• Cadent is replacing ageing gas mains across Cambridge, including areas near the University, with disruption expected until 2030.
• The work involves laying thousands of metres of new pipelines, with rolling road closures and traffic lights in place for months.
• Cambridgeshire County Council and the Combined Authority have raised concerns about the impact on bus services, NHS staff and city-centre traffic.
• Gas supply remains on for most properties, with only short, pre-notified interruptions for those directly connected to the pipes being replaced.
• Additional phases of work are planned into 2026 and beyond, extending disruption across multiple years.

Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) July 25, 2026 – Vital gas mains replacement work in Cambridge is set to cause sustained disruption to traffic and public transport until at least 2030, according to project timelines and council statements.

The scheme, which targets ageing iron and steel pipelines first laid up to 90 years ago, will see thousands of metres of new, tougher plastic mains installed across multiple corridors, including Long Road, Hills Road, Station Road, Campkin Road and Hawkins Road.

Gas network upgrade: what is happening and where

Cadent describes the works as “essential” to maintain safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating in Cambridge. The project involves replacing more than 3,500 metres of ageing gas mains in some corridors alone, with further sections scheduled for later phases.

As reported by Cadent’s June 2026 update, the works in Campkin Road and Hawkins Road began on 15 June and are expected to be completed by 28 August, with an 11-week programme and rolling road closures. In Long Road, work began in July 2025 and was initially due to finish by late September 2025, with traffic lights in place near the uk/local/city-centre/">city centre. A second phase was already planned for summer 2026.

On Hills Road and adjoining Station Road, Cadent is due to begin works on 23 June, with the project estimated to take around 11 months to complete. The Combined Authority has warned this could affect up to 2 million passenger journeys on local bus services over nearly a year.

Traffic management and road closures in central Cambridge

Because the gas mains run beneath busy roads, the works require extensive traffic management. Cadent has implemented rolling road closures, temporary traffic lights and diversion routes in phases to maintain safety for engineers while allowing some movement of vehicles.

In Long Road, Cadent project manager Doug Taylor told the BBC that having traffic lights in such a “bustling area” was “far from ideal” but necessary to ensure that every property using gas has consistent access throughout the year. He said the company had worked “diligently with local authorities to devise a plan that facilitates traffic movement while ensuring access for nearby businesses, residents and hospitals”.

On Hills Road, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority CEO warned in a letter that the resulting “traffic chaos” will have “profound social and economic consequences” for people who live, work and study in the city. The letter highlighted risks to NHS staff commuting to Addenbrooke’s and other hospitals, and to bus reliability across the corridor.

Cambridgeshire County Council has previously noted that multiple utility projects, including Cadent gas works and UK Power Networks electricity upgrades, have affected about 20 roads across Cambridge, with some schemes delayed into 2027 due to network pressures.

How residents and businesses are being affected

Most customers will not lose gas during the works. Cadent has stated that gas stays on for the duration of the works, except for properties that take a direct feed from the pipes being replaced in the immediate local area. For those properties, supply will be disconnected for a short period and then reconnected the same day, with advance notice given.

Residents of Long Road were informed that their gas supply might experience intermittent interruptions during construction, but Cadent assured that it is “typically restored” later the same day. The company has also held public events to explain the scheme and answer questions from residents and business owners.

Businesses in affected corridors have reported delays and access issues. A Cambridge business owner quoted by the BBC in 2023 described city-centre road delays as “horrendous” amid an “unprecedented” level of roadwork schemes, including those by Cadent and UK Power Networks.

Council and local authority response to Cambridge gas works

Local authorities have pressed Cadent to minimise disruption while acknowledging that the works are essential. Cambridgeshire County Council has coordinated with Cadent on traffic management plans, including scheduling some works over school holidays to reduce impact on peak commuting times.

The Combined Authority CEO wrote to Cadent stressing that, while the gas works are “essential and unavoidable”, the scale of the disruption requires “every possible step” to mitigate the impact on traffic flows. The letter noted particular concern for bus operators, whose services link residential areas, the city centre, hospitals and the University.

As reported by the BBC, Cambridgeshire County Council has said teams are “currently delaying some works until 2027, due to the pressures on the network”, underlining the cumulative effect of multiple utility projects in a constrained road space.

Wider context of utility works in Cambridge

The gas mains programme sits alongside other major infrastructure works in Cambridge. UK Power Networks has been carrying out “essential work” to improve and upgrade the electricity supply for a large part of the city, with permits from the council to access busy areas. The company has apologised for the inconvenience caused.

In addition, University-related projects have also led to road closures. In 2025, Trinity Street was closed for a month to install fibre ducting for the University, affecting businesses and University properties including Gonville & Caius College.

The combined effect of gas, electricity and digital infrastructure works has led to a high density of roadworks across central and inner suburbs, with routes such as Queen’s Edith’s Way and Coldham’s Lane also affected.

Background: why Cambridge gas mains are being replaced now

The current programme follows decades of under-investment in parts of the gas network. Cadent has said many of the pipes being replaced in Cambridge were installed nearly 90 years ago, using materials and standards that are no longer considered adequate for long-term safety and reliability.

Older iron and steel mains are more prone to leaks and require more frequent maintenance. National regulatory frameworks require distribution network operators to progressively replace these with modern plastic pipes that are more durable and less susceptible to corrosion.

The timing of the works is also shaped by broader network planning. As Cambridge’s population grows and travel patterns intensify, utilities have sought to complete major works before further congestion and development make access even more difficult. However, the concentration of projects in a relatively small city has led to the current multi-year disruption.

Prediction: how this development may affect students, commuters and businesses in Cambridge

If the gas mains works continue on the current timetable until 2030, the cumulative disruption is likely to reshape travel behaviour and planning for key groups in Cambridge.

• Students and University staff living in or commuting through areas such as Long Road, Hills Road and the city centre may face longer journey times and less reliable bus services, particularly during peak hours and term-time.
• Daily commuters, including NHS staff and service workers, may experience increased lateness and stress, potentially affecting shift handovers and service delivery at hospitals and other essential sites.
• Local businesses in affected corridors may see reduced footfall and delivery delays, especially where parking and access are restricted by rolling closures and traffic lights.
• Transport planners may be forced to prioritise alternative routes, expand park-and-ride or cycle infrastructure, and adjust bus timetables to accommodate persistent road capacity constraints.

Over time, some residents and businesses may choose to relocate or adjust operating hours to avoid the worst-affected periods, while others may accelerate a shift away from gas heating and cooking in favour of electric alternatives, particularly if renovation works coincide with decarbonisation incentives.