Columbia Gas describes Martin Street replacement, South Main relocation in Amherst

Columbia Gas representatives outlined two pipeline projects affecting Amherst — a larger Martin Street replacement and a shorter South Main Street relocation — during the June 23, 2025, meeting of the Amherst City Council.

The Martin Street work is a phase 2 mainline-and-service replacement that the company described as part of a multi-decade program to replace bare steel and cast-iron pipe. Ben Cutler of Columbia Gas said the overall company program stems from a 2008 commission mandate to replace such pipe over a 25–30 year period; the company has about 20,000 miles of pipe in scope and is “a little over halfway” through that work. Cutler said crews have installed most of the new main line for the Martin Street phase and expect to finish the main this week, then move to individual service-line replacements scheduled by appointment.

Cutler said each property service change is typically scheduled for a two- to four-hour appointment; gas service may be off for about one to two hours while the switch is made, and company crews relight appliances and perform safety checks after the work. For residential customers the company generally relocates meters that were inside to outside locations; downtown locations require alternate approaches because of sidewalk space.

The smaller South Main Street project covers roughly 840 feet and affects about 16 homes, Cutler said. That work is a relocation to clear gas facilities that conflict with a railroad bridge project; Columbia said the railroad contractor hired to build the bridge is leading that work and Columbia is relocating its lines to allow the contractor to proceed. Cutler estimated the South Main relocation would take about two to three weeks and the Martin Street project about another month to month-and-a-half to complete.

Council members asked technical and operational questions. Councilmember Heberling asked whether recent property work could exempt some properties from service-line replacement; Cutler said Columbia’s records often show recent replacements and noted that “probably 6 to 8” of about 155 properties on the Martin project already have newer service lines and meters outside and therefore may not need full service replacement. Cutler also flagged a small area (identified on company materials as Woodbridge Court/Barberry Court) where the company is performing an "up-rate" — increasing pipe capacity or pressure without replacing the mainline, which would limit work there to service-line changes only.

Council members and staff raised restoration and follow-up concerns. A council member asked about past complaints about concrete and restoration quality from earlier projects; Cutler said Columbia will review and remediate unsatisfactory restorations and encouraged residents or the city to route outstanding complaints to him so the company can address them. Cutler named Miller Pipeline as the contractor performing the work and said Columbia leaves pre-construction video records with city hall for future reference.

Cutler said most mainline work in the Martin Street phase should be complete within days, with service-line switching then scheduled by appointment, and that permanent restoration crews will follow to replace temporary patches in concrete, asphalt and yards. He said overall the Martin Street work represents about two to three months of construction from the project start.

Council chair and other members thanked Columbia’s crews for working in heat and for coordinating with city staff.

The council did not take a formal action on the Columbia Gas presentation during the meeting; the briefing served as public information and a question-and-answer opportunity.