National Grid Working To Restore Service To 300 Woburn Homes

WOBURN, MA -- National Grid expects to have gas service restored to 300 customers in Woburn by Thursday. Those customer have been without service since Monday, when a National Grid work inadvertantly increased pressure in the gas line that serves those homes. Over-pressurization is believed to have been the cause of last month's gas explosions in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover that damaged or destroyed more than 70 homes, injured more than 25 people and left an 18-year-old Lawrence man dead.

There were no reports of injuries or damages after Monday's incident in Woburn, which came during routine maintenance of the line. National Grid said it expected to begin reconnecting homes and businesses on Wednesday morning, with the last of that work expected to be completed on Thursday. The final phase of the work involves a National Grid technician visiting each home to reconnect gas service and re-light appliances.

National Grid said the gas was cut off as a precaution to conduct a more detailed inspection of the line to make sure it was damaged. The company has set up an information truck at 677 Main Street near the Wyman School to answer resident's questions.

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