SOE15100 – Ship Lane, Dartford (Dartford Road / Frank lane)

Update: 14.02.2026

Since 5 January, our team has been working on Dartford Road at the junction with Calfstock Lane, operating under traffic-signal control. This location contains two gas mains, with a combined length of approximately 500 metres.

This Week

The team is aiming to replace approximately 200 metres of gas main on Dartford Road.

Next Week

Works will focus mainly on Calfstock Lane, where a further 150 metres of gas main will be replaced. During this time, reinstatement will take place on Dartford Road.

Upcoming Works

· Week Commencing 26 January
We will replace the section between Calfstock Lane and Franks Lane, continuing to work under traffic-light control.
· Week Commencing 2 February
Franks Lane will be closed at its junction with Dartford Road to allow us to complete a 40-metre open-cut connection.
Following this, the team will continue progressing north towards Station Road over an anticipated 10-week period.

Update: 10.02.2026

Unfortunately, last week the team was only able to complete 100 metres of insertion up to the junction with Calfstock Lane. This was due to the existing gas main having undergone multiple historic repairs, resulting in internal sealant that made further insertion extremely difficult.
As a result, it has been agreed to downsize a small section of the main to allow us to continue works between Calfstock Lane and the junction of Franks Lane, which is scheduled to take place during week commencing 09/02/2026.

Upcoming Works

From week commencing 09/02/2026, the team will begin approximately 70 metres of open-cut trenching in Franks Lane. This work is expected to take around one week, with reinstatement to follow on both Dartford Road and Franks Lane.
Following this, the team will continue progressing along Dartford Road towards Station Road over the coming weeks.

Traffic Management

There may be delays at times; however, spotters will be on site from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, manually controlling the traffic lights to help maintain traffic flow where possible.

Update: 27.01.2026

This week, the open-cut works from outside Park Lodge to Coldharbour Park are being completed. Once this section is finished, the team will move on to the final section outside the hospital grounds, which will require a small amount of investigation work before it can be completed. We anticipate this final section will take approximately two weeks, after which all works will be fully complete.
Over the weekend, verge repairs were carried out using topsoil to encourage re-growth in the affected areas.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to complete these essential improvements.

Update: 14.01.2026

Since 5 January, our team has been working on Dartford Road at the junction with Calfstock Lane, operating under traffic-signal control. This location contains two gas mains, with a combined length of approximately 500 metres.

This Week

The team is aiming to replace approximately 200 metres of gas main on Dartford Road.

Next Week

Works will focus mainly on Calfstock Lane, where a further 150 metres of gas main will be replaced. During this time, reinstatement will take place on Dartford Road.

Upcoming Works

Week Commencing 26 January
We will replace the section between Calfstock Lane and Franks Lane, continuing to work under traffic-light control.
Week Commencing 2 February
Franks Lane will be closed at its junction with Dartford Road to allow us to complete a 40-metre open-cut connection.
Following this, the team will continue progressing north towards Station Road over an anticipated 10-week period.

Update: 16.12.2025

Last week, our team successfully completed all works on The Street and Bulls Hill, allowing the road to be reopened late Sunday evening. This section has now been fully replaced and reinstated.
The team has now moved into Ship Lane, working between outside No. 92 and No. 72. All works in this section, including reinstatement, are expected to be completed by 23/12/2025. Once complete, the current road closure will be removed and all site equipment and signage will be taken away.

January 2026 Works

The team will return on 05/01/2026, starting work on Dartford Road, at the junction with Calfstock Lane, operating under traffic-light control.

Thank You

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we deliver these essential gas network upgrades.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🎄🎉

Update: 02.12.2025

Current Works

All works on Rays Hill are now complete, and our road closure has moved into The Street, located at the junction with Bull Hill.
The team is aiming to complete all engineering works by 04/12/2025, with reinstatement following closely behind so that this section of road can be reopened as soon as possible.

Upcoming Works

From next week, the team will move into Ship Lane, where works will continue until 23/12/2025, at which point the closure will be removed for the Christmas period. The closure on Ship Lane will be positioned outside No. 92, ensuring all residents retain access to the main road. We will also need to close the junction of Smythe Road and Barton Road to complete connections.
However, residents will still be able to access their properties via Barfield.

New Year Works

The team will return on 05/01/2026, starting on Dartford Road, working at the junction with Calfstock Lane under traffic-light control.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience as we complete these essential gas network upgrades.

Update: 19.11.2025

Our team completed works from the junction of Eglantine Lane to the junction with The Street, achieving approximately 120 metres of new gas main insertion.
We are aiming to reopen Eglantine Lane by the end of 20/11/2025, once the final connection between Eglantine Lane and Rays Hill is complete.
This week we also plan to insert a further 100 metres of new gas main into The Street.
Once Eglantine Lane has reopened, we will move to a single road closure at Rays Hill / The Street.
Works will continue along The Street until 12/12/2025, including reinstatement and remaining engineering activities.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience while we carry out these essential upgrade works.

Update: 05.11.2025

Last week, we installed a road closure on Eglantine Lane along with two-way traffic lights to maintain access into Saxon Way. These traffic measures were required so we can make a key connection to supply all properties in Saxon Way from the new gas main.
We expect to remove the traffic lights and reopen Franks Lane early on Friday, however the closure on Eglantine Lane will remain in place a little longer.
This week, we have completed the gas main replacement from Franks Lane to outside the care home.
Next week, the road closure will move just past the care home and Rays Hill while we complete.
The final connection from Eglantine Lane to Rays Hill
Approximately 250 metres of new gas main along Rays Hill.
Once this section is complete, we will continue into The Street, and we anticipate the closure on Rays Hill will be removed week commencing 17th.
We understand the traffic management changes may feel confusing at times, and we appreciate your patience as we progress through this complex phase. The situation will ease once we are clear of Eglantine Lane, and we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.
Thank you for your continued cooperation while we carry out these essential works.

Update: 21.10.2025

Last week, a specialist directional drill was brought in to help us install the new gas main approximately 5 metres beneath the bridge structure. Unfortunately, this method couldn’t be completed due to the ground conditions, so we’ve had to leave that section as metallic for now.
The drilling was still successful for around 210 metres of open-cut installation from Franks Manor towards Dartford Road.
This means that a future closure on Franks Lane will be needed later to finish the remaining section safely.
For next week, our team will:
Reopen Franks Lane and close Eglantine Lane at the junction with Franks Lane.
Complete this section within the week, continuing into Rays Hill and The Street.
Install approximately 300 metres of new main, including a new service connection for the care home.
We appreciate your patience and understanding while we complete these essential works — thank you for continuing to work with us.

Update: 08.10.2025

We now have completed as of w.c 6th October completed all insertion works down to the junction of Eglantine Lane. From next week the team will be looking to direction drill the section from Dartford Road to the bridge over the stream, this will take all week followed by another week of a final amount of open cut.

Once works are completed in Franks Lane, the team will continue with the scheme of working going into Eglantine Lane.

Update: 23.09.2025

Last week the team inserted from the bridge on Franks Lane to approximately outside the cricket club. This week the team are doing investigation and trail hole work on Franks Lane from the other side of the Bridge to Dartford Road this is due to the gas main being found to be 4” instead of the recorded 6” which could result in us needing to open cut this section of replacement.

This has meant that all other roads that are due for replacement will have date changes due to this change in scope of works. All residents will be made aware of works in their roads prior to arrival.