Residents along Reynard Avenue and Pringle Drive in Springfield township were a little annoyed with the utility work that dug up their streets and yards the past two months, but they understand the work is needed.

        Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co. began a project in April to replace 20 percent of the gas main pipelines throughout Greater Cincinnati in the next 10 years. Springfield Township is one of many communities across the Tristate undergoing pipe replacements.

Rodney Cooper of the Byrnes Conway Co. in Carthage steadies an 88-foot gas main as he directs a crane placing it in a trench along West Northbend Road at Greenfield Road in College Hill. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        “It's a bother,” Dr. Robert Pornoy, 70, said of the work on his street. “But it's a necessary bother. It's like a vaccination, you know you need it, but the needle still hurts.”

        The project will replace aging steel and cast-iron pipes — some as ancient as 125 years — with new plastic pipes.

        The update is needed to avoid safety and reliability issues that can occur with older pipes. CG&E is preparing for technological advances which would require pipes that can handle higher pressures.

        “We are always concerned about safety,” said Dave Woodburn, CG&E spokesman. “This is like a preventive maintenance move. Some of the old pipes may still have 20 years left in them, but we don't want to wait until it breaks.”

        The project will cost about $700 million. CG&E filed a request with the Public Utility Commission of Ohio for a rate increase to recover the project costs during the next 10 years, said L.C. Randolph, vice president of gas operations. Though the request has not been approved by PUCO, CG&E estimates that residential customers could see an extra dollar added to their monthly bill beginning in the spring. The extra charge will be updated annually based on the construction costs of the previous year.

Corroded metal lines are a safety concern. | ZOOM |

        The pipeline project will replace 1,250 miles of gas main pipeline. So far, workers have completed 30 miles. There are crews now working in more than 10 neighborhoods across the Tristate. Older metallic gas main lines and pipes will be replaced first. Each crew replaces about 200 feet of pipe each day, Mr. Randolph said.

        Because of the enormity of the project, CG&E has employed the help of seven outside contractors to expedite the process, Mr. Woodburn said.

        The project will significantly increase the amount of pipeline CG&E typically replaces. In an average year, crews replace 12 to 20 miles of pipe. At that rate, it would take them 80 years to cover the 1,250 miles outlined in the project.

        This year, CG&E plans to replace 90 miles of pipeline. That number will jump to 150 miles next year.

        Residents are informed of pipeline replacement by fliers from CG&E the week before utility work.

        They are also contacted by a member of the crew before workers have to enter the home to do any indoor replacements.
       

Creating high-tech hub is goal
Area competes for high-tech
Delta seeks more flights to Europe
CG&E to lay 1,250 miles of gas lines
Discount chains profit as others lag behind
Gap trims more jobs as sales figures drop
P&G to change Luvs diapers
Toyota looks to diversity
Bankruptcy concerns push Polaroid stock price lower
Recall's over, but not troubles
Business Digest
Morning Memo
Tristate Summary
What's the Buzz?