Closed road in Northampton to reopen this evening as investigation into gas leak begins

A section of the road has been closed since yesterday, causing long traffic queues throughout the town, since yesterday when a gas leak was reported in the central reservation, near police headquarters.

As a result, the road had to be closed between Tesco and Queen Eleanor roundabout.

However, the county council said this afternoon that it is scheduled to re-open to traffic at 8pm this evening.

A spokesman said: “Two lanes will be opened westbound and one lane will be opened eastbound, with 20mph speed restrictions in place for safety.

The council said gas and highways engineers have been “working round the clock” to carry out repairs.

The spokesman said the events that led to the leak are as yet unknown.

He said: “The gas leak was caused by damage to a pipe in the central reservation outside Wootton Hall Park, where work is taking place to build a new gyratory roundabout.

“An investigation is being carried out to establish exactly how the damage happened.”