Replacing Gas Pipes on Sepulveda to Prompt Lane Closures

From an email:

SoCalGas will be doing work on the Westside of Los Angeles.

As part of our Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan, we will be replacing pipe on Sepulveda Boulevard starting just south of Wilshire Boulevard and ending just north of Pico Boulevard. The work is expected to take three to four months to complete, although weather and other factors affecting safe working conditions could change the schedule.

There will be contractors’ trucks and heavy equipment in the area, temporary lane closures and the odor of natural gas may be present. As the work moves along Sepulveda Blvd., the center left-turn lane and one lane of northbound Sepulveda Blvd., will be closed for the length of the active work. Lane closures on Sepulveda Boulevard., will take place during the following times:

• Mon – Fri 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next day

• Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. on Sunday

• Sunday No lane closures after 4:30 a.m.

There will be no lane closures during peak travel times, and there will be no lane closures on Wilshire, Santa Monica., Olympic or Pico boulevards. On-site signage will provide additional traffic details.

About the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan:

The Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan was filed to comply with the CPUC’s pipeline safety rulemaking proceeding directives to enhance public safety. As part of the proceeding, the CPUC ordered the state’s natural gas transmission pipeline operators to develop plans to replace or pressure test all natural gas transmission pipelines that have not been pressure tested. Regulations specifying pressure testing were implemented after many of the transmission pipelines were installed. We also are proposing to retrofit existing valves so we can respond to transmission pipeline incidents more quickly and in multiple locations simultaneously. Additionally, we propose to install technology enhancements, such as fiber optic cabling and methane detection instruments, to enable near real-time monitoring of events and conditions along our pipelines. The plan was filed in August 2011 and was approved by the CPUC June 2014.