Construction work on Hanover pipeline gets under way

New one-kilometre pipeline section to be built in Gütersloh-Isselhorst and Bielefeld-Ummeln

At the beginning of September, gas network operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) will start work on natural gas pipeline No. 6, also known as the ‘Hanover pipeline’, installing new pipes along the ‘An der Lutter’ and ‘Isselhorster Straße’ roads in the Gütersloh-Isselhorst and Bielefeld-Ummeln area.

The pipeline is currently located beneath the ‘An der Lutter’ roadway, but the roots of adjacent rows of trees are causing damage, making it necessary to lay a new section of about one kilometre in order to continue to ensure the safe operation of the pipeline. In order to avoid felling the trees and in view of the limited space available, the experts at OGE have decided to install the new pipeline section on ‘An der Lutter’ and ‘Isselhorster Straße’ parallel to the existing pipeline. To protect the tree roots, the old section of the line will be left in the ground. Once the construction work has been completed and the new section has been commissioned, OGE's experts will close off and seal the old pipes.

The construction work will start at the beginning of September and, according to the latest timeline, will continue until the end of 2026. There are no plans to close the affected road completely. In order to minimise disruption to residents and local traffic, it will be closed in sections, depending on construction progress. Diversions will be put in place, but it will still be necessary to use surrounding streets. This also applies to access to the adjacent sports field, which will not be accessible as usual during the construction activities.