A SECTION of road has been closed for work to be carried out on the installation of a new water pipe.

The £1.8 million scheme is to replace a four-kilometre section of pipeline, which is prone to bursts, between Watersheddles Reservoir and Oldfield Water Treatment Works.

Yorkshire Water, which is behind the project, said it was necessary – for health and safety reasons – to close Oldfield Lane, between the entrance to the water treatment works and the junction with Scar Top Road.

The second phase of the scheme, due to begin on February 3, will see work shift to Two Laws Road.

And a third stage – scheduled to take eight weeks to complete – will require another road closure, this time from the Oldfield Road junction to the junction with Cragg Bottom Road and Two Laws Road.

The overall project is due for completion by the summer.

Yorkshire Water project manager, John Shanks, said he appreciated the work would cause inconvenience for motorists but that the scheme was essential.

He added: “We are delighted that this project has begun – it will add greater resilience to the network.

“We understand that the road closures are frustrating, but we thank customers in advance of this vital project.”