Council approves agreement with Enable to case transmission gas line under Houston Street; estimated cost $110,000

Broken Arrow city staff asked the council to approve an agreement with Enable Oklahoma (a parent/affiliate of the transmission-line owner) to case a 24-inch high-pressure gas transmission line where the city is reconstructing Houston Street.

Public works staff member Charlie Bridal explained engineers redesigned a Houston Street alignment to avoid relocating the pipeline, but during construction city crews found the existing casing did not extend under the newly aligned roadway. Bridal said the cost to relocate the line earlier had been estimated at about $2,000,000, so the parties negotiated casing the line for a shorter distance under the road instead.

Bridal said the negotiated amount in the agreement is approximately $110,000 but noted the city will pay the company’s actual, documented costs under the contract. “So we've, come to that agreement. We're recommending approval,” Bridal said, and added that casing requires specialized work and safety standards because the line is an important regional transmission asset.

A councilor asked what “casing” means in lay terms. An explanation followed: casing provides a protective sleeve under a roadway so future maintenance can avoid digging up the pavement and to reduce risks from traffic-related loading. Bridal said this transmission line “is the biggest one in town” and is a regional asset; staff recommended approval to avoid a far costlier relocation.

Councilors moved and seconded the agreement; the roll call was taken and the contract was approved to allow casing work to proceed and construction to continue.