September 28, 2010 -- The National Street Gazetteer (NSG) is being used as part of the planning for the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and Paralympic Route Network (PRN). The ORN/PRN is the definitive list of designated transport routes essential to the smooth running of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The NSG is the country’s definitive list of streets. It is coordinated on behalf of local government by Local Government Information House (LGIH) with Intelligent Addressing (IA) as the national custodian. The NSG is the reference system used in the notification process for the coordination of street works by highway authorities, utilities and others whose work might affect traffic flow.

The ORN/PRN has been incorporated into the NSG in order to minimise any disruption to the network in the lead up to, during and after the games. The ORN/PRN will affect 45 different local highway authorities across London, the Home Counties and parts of the South West where sailing will take place. It is vital to the success of the Games that traffic disruption is kept to a minimum.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has designated the ORN/PRN and is the public body responsible for developing and building the new venues and infrastructure for the Games and their use after 2012. The ORN/PRN is made up of roads and streets that will facilitate the travel of athletes and their coaches, officials, and the media, between the competition and training venues during the Games.

Under the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act of 2006 any party engaging in any activity which may disrupt the ORN/PRN and travel to or from an Olympic event, such as street works, is obliged to contact the ODA to secure approval. The ODA has significant powers to regulate work to ensure the integrity of the network during key periods.

By incorporating the ORN/PRN into the NSG, highway authorities, utilities and others empowered to work in and dig up the roads will be fully aware of the ORN/PRN and the restrictions in place while it is in operation. Utility companies and others licensed to carry out works in the highway use the NSG to notify their intention to carry out works on the roads, or to apply for permits where such schemes exist. Highways authorities also use the NSG to manage all of their own internal works.

“The NSG is the ideal way of communicating the Olympic Route Network and Paralympic Route Network to those licensed to dig up the roads,” said Oscar Akintoye from the ODA. “For these organisations it will be business as usual during the summer of 2012. The NSG will provide appropriate information and advice to ensure that work is either coordinated or re-scheduled to a more appropriate time.”

CONTACT: Gayle Gander, Head of Marketing, Tel: +44(0)207 747 3500, Email: Email Contact, www.intelligent-addressing.co.uk