Century Approves Contractor To Repair Gas Leak Under Highway 29

April 22, 2014

Over three years since the problem was first publicly revealed as a potential “major public safety issue”, natural gas continues to leak under Highway 29 in Century.

Monday night, the Century Town Council voted to award a repair contract to R.A.W. Construction, LLC of Tallahassee for $393,500 to repair the problem.

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.

The R.A.W. bid paperwork must now be approved by USDA Rural Development, a process that should take about two weeks.  After approval, the contractor should begin work within about 60 days with 120 days to complete the project, according to Dale Long, the town’s engineer.

That repair portion of the project has been estimated to cost the town about $1 million.

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.

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.

Two other bids were received on the project — one for $795,700.75 from Utility Service Company  and one for $897,000 from Roberson Excavation, Inc. of Milton.

Long said due to the significantly lower  bid from R.A.W, he verified the company’s references and verified the bid was correct. He said the company was lower because they are primarily a gas contractor, while the other two companies are primarily water and sewer contractors.

Pictured above and below: Natural gas is leaking under Highway 29 in Century. Pictured inset: Century Mayor Freddie McCall signs documents in April 2012 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

4 Responses to “Century Approves Contractor To Repair Gas Leak Under Highway 29”

  1. jeeperman on April 22nd, 2014 6:45 pm

    Three questions:
    What was the price difference between installing 4″ pipe versus 2″ pipe?
    The labor is the same, the only cost difference is the pipe and fittings.
    Seems the City is short changing themselves and being short sighted.
    2nd: how much gas $$ does the City figure they have paid for and lost via the leaking pipe ? The gas was/is not free to the City, they had to pay for it even if it leaked away.
    3rd: plastic or steel pipe ?

  2. Sam on April 22nd, 2014 11:09 am

    I would think costs were envolved. Would people be willing to pony up with higher taxes to foot the expense. I’m thinking not in century. It was probably done in the right way. Wish it had been done sooner; but thats what elect those folks for.

  3. shiloh on April 22nd, 2014 9:58 am

    Gas leaks for years and its just a part of life. It seems that there are more important things than peoples life’s.

  4. c.w. on April 22nd, 2014 9:35 am

    It seems strange that the city council. and mayor worries about animals in the city but allows a gas leak, that can be deadly, to go on for years. Someone needs to get their priorities in order.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News