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Natural Gas Still Leaking Somewhere Under Hwy 29; Repairs Coming Soon
March 5, 2013
Over a year after the problem was first publicly revealed as a potential “major public safety issue”, natural gas continues to leak under Highway 29 in Century.
The leak has not gotten any worse, according to the town’s engineer, Dale Long. Routine checks are performed to ensure the problem does not worsen.
About 6,515 feet of 4-inch steel natural gas line was buried beneath the southbound lanes of Highway 29 when the road was widened to four lanes. Now, over 45 years since the almost 1.25 mile long pipe was put into the ground, the town believes the steel is corroding and leaking somewhere between West Highway 4 and McCurdy Street.
In April 2012, Century signed off on a $1.4 million USDA Rural Development loan to cover the cost of replacing the pipe. But, according to town officials, the town received the wrong form from the USDA, and as a result advertised the meetings incorrectly.
That meant heading back to the drawing board and starting the loan process again.
Monday night, the Century Town Council gave preliminary approval to a bond issue for just over $1.4 million. Once it is approved by the state, it will be sent back to the council for final approval. The total time until work might begin on the project should be about three months, Long said.
A new 4-inch pipe will be placed on the west side of Highway 29, while a new 2-inch pipe will be installed on the east side of the highway, eliminating the need to install pipes under the road to service natural gas customers.
The pipe will be installed where existing easements exist or can be obtained at no cost, otherwise, it will be installed under existing sidewalks.
Pictured above and below: Natural gas is leaking under Highway 29 in Century. Pictured inset: Century Mayor Freddie McCall signs documents in April for a $1.401 million USDA Rural Development loan to repair the leaky gas lines. The loan was later invalidated by the USDA due to an incorrect form. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Natural Gas Still Leaking Somewhere Under Hwy 29; Repairs Coming Soon”
well i’m glad that they are going to fix the leak that has been a leak for over 6 years………….
REGARDING:
“The county wants tax dollars from all its people…but if this was to happen in the south end,,,guess what…it would be handled long ago”
You’re saying ESP or whatever it is called lately would have fixed it or that the county commissioners would have?
The problem is that it is not THEIR problem. They don’t answer for the actions and inactions of the Town of Century. Separate organizations.
Nor is it financed by taxes. It finances the town although lost fas doesn’t bring in revenue.
At least small leaks will disperse unless enclosed and no BOOM-BOOM.
David for natural gas in the right places
There was just a HUGE explosion in Tampa from something like this less than a week ago!
The county wants tax dollars from all its people…but if this was to happen in the south end,,,guess what…it would be handled long ago…the leadership we have before us is embarrassing.
It doesn’t even take a spark. I lived in California about 20 miles from a place where old natural gas pipes were under a four-lane highway. Road vibration from traffic worsened the leak until a small earthquake finised off that section of highway, taking nearby residences with it. Thank God it went off at night and no vehicles were on that stretch of road.
This is a fire bomb waiting to go off. I hope and pray it is quickly and safely fixed.
Well, the way I find leaks is using soap and water. I suppose about a 100 gallons of dawn dish soap and a few fire hoses should do the trick. Just look for the bubbles.
Seems to me that a year is a long time for a potential hazard from a leaking gas line to continue. I think I would be very concerned if I lived near there. It would only take one spark in the wrong place to cause a serious problem.