Recovery Will Finish More Than A Year After Gas Explosions

ANDOVER, MA -- Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has until next Halloween to repave roads, fix sidewalks and replace furnaces and boilers that were repaired to get residents in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence through the winter under a deadline set Monday by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. That deadline falls more than 13 months after the gas explosions that killed one, injured more than 20 and damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings in the Merrimack Valley.

The Department also tapped Nitsch Engineering to oversee the remaining recovery work. Joe Albanese, the retired U.S. Navy construction engineer named chief recovery officer by Gov. Charlie Baker for the initial phase of the recovery, has "completed his role," DPU said in a statement.

"With this Order, the Department of Public Utilities continues its commitment to holding Columbia Gas accountable to complete all remaining restoration work in a timely, safe and thorough manner," DPU Chairwoman Angela O’Connor said. "The Department will continue to carefully monitor the utilities’ recovery efforts while working to ensure the safety of the Commonwealth’s entire natural gas distribution system and operations."

Columbia Gas faces fines of $1 million for each violation of the terms laid out in the DPU order, including missing the deadline.

All but about 150 customers remain without gas service, allowing the utility to declare it had "substantially completed" the first phase of the recovery effort. But hundreds of furnaces and boilers that were temporarily repaired will have to be replaced. That work is expected to begin after the winter heating season ends in April.

Other recent developments:

• Foundation Set To Release Third Stipend To Gas Explosion Victims
• Columbia Gas Cut Pressure-Monitoring Staff: Whistle Blower
• State Hearing Takes Broader View On Gas Line Safety In MA

Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

File photo of Joe Albanese by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).