£6m pipe dig will bring chaos to the West End

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The roadworks, which will extend from Aldwych to Trafalgar Square, are the latest phase of a three-year project to replace 40 miles of water pipes throughout the West End.

They are expected to affect hundreds of bars and shops as pavements are dug up and traffic re-routed.

Thames Water has already excavated large areas of Theatreland as part of its plan and the latest phase is to begin on 14 April and will run until March 2010.

The works will begin on Kendal Street, before moving towards Russell Street and Covent Garden's main Piazza and then reaching the east side of Trafalgar Square.

Thames Water is investing more than £6million in the improvements which will involve replacing cast iron mains, some dating back to the Victorian era, with plastic pipes that are more durable and flexible.

The area of work will be roughly bounded by Long Acre, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, Charing Cross Road, Trafalgar Square, the Strand and Aldwych. Jaymen Patel, project manager for Thames Water, said: "Tackling London's leakage is a priority for Thames Water, and we can only achieve this by systematically replacing all of its ageing cast iron water mains that are susceptible to leaks and bursts.

"Although these pipes have served the capital well, they date back as far as the Victorian era and it is therefore essential that we modernise the network-We have already laid more than 600 miles of new mains across London, the benefits of which are already evident with leakage lower than ever."

Thames admitted the work would disrupt tourists and local businesses but said it would prevent repair work in the future.

Mains replacement work in Long Acre is already under way, with 1,300ft of pipe laid since September last year. Works to lay the remaining 260ft of mains are due for completion in May.