PSEG Set To Replace 3 Miles Of Gas Pipes In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) will soon embark on a project that will replace about three miles of older gas pipes with new plastic and/or coated steel piping in West Orange, the company announced last week.

“These upgrades are part of PSE&G’s three-year program to replace up to 510 miles of aging gas infrastructure throughout New Jersey,” said Joe Forline, vice president of gas operations for PSE&G. “We are working closely with municipal officials and the department of public works to coordinate construction schedules and are committed to keeping customers in West Orange informed about where and when the work will take place.”

According to a PSE&G news release, the new pipes will “improve reliability, reduce the possibility of methane leaks, and enable the installation of excess flow valves on service lines.”

“These valves dramatically reduce gas flow if a pipe is damaged,” company officials stated. “The elevated pressure of the new gas mains will also provide better support for high-efficiency appliances like furnaces and water heaters.”

West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi said that the township is coordinating with the company to ensure that work is done with minimal disruption.

“PSE&G’s upgrades to its aging gas infrastructure will ensure our residents and businesses have safe and reliable gas service for years to come,” Parisi said.

According to the company, work will take place Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., conditions permitting. More information and a list of the streets where pipe replacements will take place are available at www.pseg.com/gaswork.

Residents will be notified that PSE&G will be working in their area by phone, mail, door hangers and Facebook posts. The gas main replacement portion of the work is expected to be complete in October. The paving and street restoration will be completed in November.

HOW THE WORK WILL BE DONE

According to PSE&G:

• Before construction can start, the utility tests soil and digs test holes to verify the location of existing gas mains. When this preliminary work is complete, PSE&G will begin installing the new gas mains and upgrading associated service lines that carry the gas to homes and businesses.
• PSE&G crews will dig trenches, primarily in road surfaces, and lay new pipes block by block, in order to limit the impacted areas on any given day. There will be short-term road closures and detours during construction. Local police will direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic. At the end of each workday, the trenches will be filled in, and plates secured, on any open areas so people can safely drive and walk.
• After the new gas mains are installed, PSE&G will need to access customers’ homes to connect their service lines and meter. PSE&G will contact homeowners to arrange a date and time to do the connections. During the connection work, customers will be without gas service for approximately four hours. If a gas meter is inside, PSE&G will be relocating it to the outside of customers’ homes or businesses. The utility will relight all appliances and make sure they are safely working before leaving a home.
• In most cases, PSE&G will be able to install the new pipes without digging in lawns. Lawn areas, shrubs or other vegetation affected by the work will be restored. Grass areas will be raked and seeded.
• PSE&G will repair roads with temporary pavement until the ground settles. This takes about 45 to 90 days, depending on the weather and soil conditions. PSE&G then restores the roads with permanent paving in accordance with town ordinance and paving requirements.
• PSE&G crews will use work area protection including traffic cones, utility work signs, and barriers to ensure the job is done safely. The utility reminds motorists to slow down and follow detour signs when driving through the construction area.

Photo: PSE&G worker replaces gas pipe in Totowa, courtesy of PSE&G

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