Philadelphia Gas Works is scheduled to begin construction this week on a new natural gas pipeline stretching from University Avenue and Civic Center Boulevard to 38th and Chestnut streets.
PGW spokesman Cameron Kline estimated the project will continue for 21 weeks if no setbacks such as weather or infrastructure problems are encountered.
According to Kline, the pipeline is being built primarily to connect the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with a larger supply of natural gas for heating, cooling and energy.
Construction will take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. in order “to minimize the disruption as best we can,” Kline said. PGW workers have also met with city, University, hospital and state officials to reduce the impact of the project on the surrounding area.
While work will be completed during the night and in two separate phases, some changes to traffic will take place in isolated areas of road as the pipeline is completed. However, no roads will be closed for the update.
To describe the magnitude of the project, Kline explained that a typical row house has a natural gas pipe connection of about one inch in diameter. The new pipeline will be 30 inches across its center.
Kline estimated that half a block of the pipe will be completed each week if all goes according to plan.
“We’re working as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimize disruption,” Kline said.
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