United Infrastructure completes complex pipeline installation beneath Ulverston Canal

We are pleased to announce the successful delivery of a major new gas pipeline alongside the Ulverston Canal in Cumbria, safeguarding reliable energy supplies for tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the region.

Commissioned by Cadent, the project began in March 2025 and saw the replacement of an ageing pipeline showing signs of deterioration. Engineers installed an 850-metre section of 12-inch heavy-wall steel pipeline, creating a safer and more resilient supply route to Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness, replacing an older pipe beneath the canal footpath.

A standout element of the scheme was the construction of a 73-metre micro tunnel bored beneath the canal to house the new pipeline, which was completed in under three days, ahead of schedule, and without disruption to the waterway or surrounding environment. United Infrastructure deployed a Herrenknecht AVN900 slurry Tunnel Boring Machine to overcome challenging ground conditions and tight clearances to the canal bed.

Despite the project’s complexity, gas supplies continued to flow seamlessly throughout, ensuring no disruptions for households, schools, hospitals, or local businesses.

Given the canal’s proximity to Morecambe Bay, a Ramsar Site, Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the project team put robust environmental safeguards in place. Ecologists conducted regular site visits to protect habitats and species, including otters and bats.

James O’Donnell, Operations Director, United Infrastructure, commented:

“The safe completion of this complex engineering project marks a significant milestone, showcasing the hard work and close collaboration of everyone involved. We are now focussed on the final stage of the project, reinstating the land with minimal disruption to the local community in Ulverston.

Paula Steer, Network Director, Cadent North West said:

“That’s the big success story here,” said Paula Steer, Network Director for Cadent in the North West. “The fact that tens of thousands of homes are now being served by a completely new pipeline — and no one noticed the switch — is a huge achievement. It’s a credit to the teams who planned and

delivered this project with such precision. Gas kept flowing, boilers kept running, cookers stayed lit – a complex engineering project delivered brilliantly.

“This is a big project and we have worked hard to minimise our impact on the local community and the environment. The teams are already working to reinstate the land and be off-site, on schedule, around the end of October.”