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Columbia Gas outlines multiweek pipeline work in Providence Hill and Taylor Street areas
Summary
Columbia Gas representatives told Lexington City Council the company plans two aging-pipe replacement projects, one covering the Providence Hill/Stonewall area and one on Taylor Street, with an expected start within weeks and roughly 24 weeks of work for the larger project.
Columbia Gas representatives presented two natural-gas pipeline replacement projects to the Lexington City Council Feb. 20, describing timelines, expected service impacts and restoration plans for neighborhoods in the Stonewall/Providence Hill area and on Taylor Street.
Zach Props, acting construction leader for Columbia Gas in the region, said the work replaces aged pipes with new plastic main and converts existing customer services. For the Stonewall (also described to locals as Providence Hill) project, Columbia reported approximately 12,800 feet of pipeline and about 100 services. Crew schedules anticipate roughly a 24-week duration for that larger project, with restoration following the main construction.
Columbia and its construction partner Miller Pipeline said the work will be mostly open-cut but that the contractor is "investigating opportunities for trenchless or directional bore" to reduce surface impact where possible. Props said crews will use steel plates to maintain traffic where needed during mainline work and that service crews will visit individual customers to make tieovers. He said normal practice is to cut service "sometime early in the morning," tie over each service, then restore service the same day.
On restoration, Columbia representatives said they generally do not repave roadways edge-to-edge but will make generous patches where needed and will perform concrete repairs seam-to-seam. For private yards they said topsoil, seed and straw will be used and that the contractor will accommodate customers who specify particular seed or turf types when feasible. Props said Columbia owns the gas service line from the main to the meter at the house and will replace laterals where required by condition or current guidelines.
The company described multiple communication channels: a project newsletter already distributed, door hangers placed by Miller Pipeline, an 800 number for coordinators, Facebook posts and neighborhood message boards. Council members urged clear, street-level labeling for the project area (one councilmember suggested the local name "Providence Hill" rather than a single street name) and recommended placing message boards in the work area to explain that the project improves gas safety. Columbia said it will work with local inspectors and city staff on patching standards and public notices.
Ending: Columbia asked city staff to coordinate inspection and communication points. Company representatives said they are insured for on-site damage and will work with the city to address individual concerns during construction.
