Columbia Gas Upgrades Lines to Manassas Park Homes

Gas lines that transport precious fuel for heating and cooking into Manassas Park’s Cape Cod-style homes are getting an upgrade, most likely in September.

Columbia Gas teams will begin working on the 100 block of Manassas Drive and the 100 block of Evans Street on the west side of Manassas Park, replacing portions of the pipeline system, Jennifer DuBois, Columbia Gas communications and community relations manager said on Tuesday.

Columbia Gas supervisors are planning to walk the project site with city and public works employees sometime this week, DuBois said.

After that, the work is expected to begin, she added.

New natural gas pipelines will be installed, most likely in the road right-of-way or in alleys, according to a letter Columbia Gas sent to its customers affected by upgrades.

In some cases, meters and service lines leading to actual residences will be replaced.

More upgrades to gas lines will be done sometime in 2013; this is the only project scheduled for 2012 in Manassas Park, DuBois said.

Customers in Manassas Park can follow the company's work plans and schedule on its special Infrastructure Modernization page on its website. 

Columbia Gas is working to improve the gas pipelines in Virginia over the next five years as part of a $100 million Infrastructure Modernization Plan approved in November by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Robert C. Innes, director of communications and community relations at Columbia Gas said.

“With the approval of this initiative, Columbia Gas now has the
regulatory framework in place to accelerate the process of upgrading older
portions of our underground pipeline system,” Columbia Gas President Carl Levande said in a release.    

“In addition to the operational benefits of this system upgrade, this multi-year program will benefit Virginia’s economy by creating employment opportunities through the additional construction related jobs needed to replace aging facilities, providing for continuing investments in the communities we serve, and leading to the creation of a more modern and efficient natural gas delivery system.”

On June 1, 2011, the Virginia State Corporation Commission received Columbia Gas of Virginia’s plan to replace certain facilities that qualified under the Steps to Advance Virginia’s Energy Plan or SAVE Act.

The act was signed into law by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell in 2010 and established a regulatory framework for Virginia’s natural gas utilities to invest in replacing older infrastructure and recovering costs for the work as quickly as possible.

The cost of the program is 36 cents a month for each residential customer, according to Columbia Gas.

Columbia Gas community relations personnel have divided the process into seven, easy to understand steps for its customers:

Step 1: All underground utilities will be located and marked with temporary paint.

Step 2: Each property owner is responsible for locating and marking any private underground facilities such as irrigation systems, invisible dog fences and drain fields.

Step 3: Each property owner will be notified prior to construction beginning on their street.

Step 4: A new natural gas main line will be installed, typically in the road right-of-way or alley.

Step 5: If necessary, individual service lines and meters will be replaced. Please note: natural gas service will be temporarily interrupted while our crews complete this work.

Step 6: Columbia Gas of Virginia field representatives will coordinate the transfer of natural gas service to the newly installed facilities. Please note: We will need to access your property to complete a safety check and relight your natural gas appliances.

Step 7: Upon completion of the construction project, we will restore the property to its original condition. This can include the yard, sidewalk or other pavement.

Columbia Gas of Virginia employees can be identified by their marked vehicles and uniforms.

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