ENHANCING SYSTEM SAFETY We are upgrading the natural gas lines in your neighborhood.
When? Early to mid March.
Columbia Gas and Miller Pipeline is set to begin a pipeline improvement project in Bucyrus. Crews are installing approximately 5,000 feet of new mainline on sections of Failor St., Penn Ave. and E. Mansfield St. However, only properties on Mansfield (east of Penn) will be impacted with service line changeovers.
In terms of project sequencing…
- Preconstruction camera work is underway. During this phase, residents may notice markers and flags cropping up in yards. These are to mark the locations of underground facilities. Ask kindly that everyone keep all markers in place until the work is complete.
- Installation of the new mainline should begin early-to-mid March.
- Once the mainline is in and put into service, crews will follow-up with service line replacements for individual properties (Mansfield section only). These take about 3-5 hours per property and include a brief service disconnection. Indoor meters will be relocated outside as well. Miller personnel will reach out to schedule an appointment for the disconnect, relight, and meter relocation (if necessary) with each property owner.
As for restoration, crews will temporarily restore all property to ensure safety and accessibility and then follow-up with permanent restoration once the weather breaks in the spring.
As for traffic, please expect some congestion in our work zones, but flaggers will be on-hand to get all motorists through safely. Further, crews will not block residents in their driveways.
Thanks for your patience and understanding. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or any other special circumstances that we should be aware of. My contact info is included below. Please note, we’ve also scheduled a virtual public meeting for Thursday, March 9 at 5:30 PM. Please see dial-in below. Thanks, and hope you can join.
Weblink - https://bit.ly/41txnzd
Phone +1 213-514-7050, Access Code: 523 365 881#
Sincerely,
Ben Cutler, MBA | Public Affairs Manager | Columbia Gas of Ohio
Cell: 216.215.4103 (call/text)
Bcutler@nisource.com
www.facebook.com/bencutler.coh
Natural Gas Emergency: 1-800-344-4077
Bucyrus HP
Bucyrus, Ohio
Columbia Gas of Ohio and its contractor Miller Pipeline are set to begin a gas line improvement project in Bucyrus.
Crews are installing approximately 5,000 feet of new mainline on sections of Failor St., Penn Ave. and E. Mansfield St. However, only properties on Mansfield
(east of Penn) will be impacted with service line change-overs.
The project has several long-term benefits:
• Enhanced safety features
• Reliability of service for years to come
• Less future maintenance
• Pipe lifespan of 100 years
• System support for growth and
development
Work will begin in early March and last roughly 2-3 months. We promise to put things back in order once complete.
Note - our project may impact driveways and sidewalks in the short-term. For any residents with special circumstances (disability, limited mobility or specific health concerns), please reach out at your earliest convenience so that we can work together on a specialty plan for install at your property. Business owners - please reach out as well.
SAFETY
Safety is at the forefront of everything we do. In light COVID-19, we are taking proactive steps to keep our customers, employees, and contractor partners safe.
If we need to enter your home or business, please know our employees and contractors follow all safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Virtual Public Meeting. Thursday, March 9 @ 5:30 PM
Weblink - https://bit.ly/41txnzd
Phone +1 213-514-7050, Access Code: 523 365 881# Those utilizing the weblink may need to download Microsoft Teams
More Information
For more information, visit
ColumbiaGasOhio.com/projects
WHAT WE DO:
1. Prep work. To make sure no other underground utilities are damaged by this work, we will call 811 to have the public utilities marked with flags, stakes and temporary paint. We may also schedule time to enter your home or business to inspect your sewer and gas lines. Please contact Benjamin Cutler at 216.215.4103 to let us know about buried sprinkler or septic systems, invisible fences or cisterns at your home or business.
2. Install gas lines. We will replace the main line and service lines that connect your home to our gas system.
3. We will schedule an appointment with you to connect your home or business to the system. For your safety, your gas service will be off during the installation. We may relocate the meter to an appropriate place outside – at no additional cost to you.
4. Safety check and relight. Once our gas work is completed, we will conduct a natural gas safety inspection outside and inside your home or business. After a successful inspection, we will relight your appliances.
5. Clean up. We will repair or replace any portions of sidewalks, driveways,
landscaping, etc. disturbed by our work. Our goal is to restore everything as close to its original condition as possible.
Project Contact - Benjamin Cutler
216.215.4103 (call/text)
Bcutler@nisource.com
Where we will be working.
Blue: Mainline and service change-overs
Red: Mainline only
OUR TEAM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD:
You will see us working with our contractor, Miller Pipeline. All our employees and contractors can be identified by marked vehicles and also carry photo ID.
WORK ZONE SAFETY TIPS:
• Stay safe by keeping children and pets away from construction areas.
• Do not park in marked construction zones.
• Drive carefully in construction zones.
• Follow the direction of traffic signs and on-site crew.
MORE INFORMATION:
• Schedule a neighborhood or one-on-one meeting with us. Contact Benjamin Cutler at 216.215.4103.
• Review the Frequently Asked Questions.
• Look for door hangers that may be placed on your front door with additional updates. • Talk with members of our team on site during the project.
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for project updates.
Note: If you have received this information and you are not the current property owner, please forward this information to the landlord or property owner immediately.
For more information, visit
ColumbiaGasOhio.com/projects
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Mansfield Section)
WHY ARE YOU REPLACING THE NATURAL GAS LINES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? We’re committed to providing safe and reliable service at your home or business. While the current system has performed well, it’s time to replace the natural gas lines with newer materials that will serve your community for many years to come.
HOW CAN I IDENTIFY YOUR EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS?
All our employees and contractors can be identified by marked vehicles. They also carry photo ID.
WILL I HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR THIS PROJECT?
No, you won’t have to pay specifically for this improvement project in your neighborhood. The cost of building, maintaining and upgrading our gas line system is shared by all customers and is already part of your monthly bill.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO MOVE THE GAS METER?
Moving gas meters to an appropriate place outside of your home or business provides first responders with easier access to gas meters in an emergency as well as other safety advantages. Once it’s moved, we won’t need access inside your home or business for routine inspections.
WILL I BE NOTIFIED WHEN YOU NEED TO GET INSIDE MY HOME
OR BUSINESS?
Yes, once we’re in that phase of the project, we will contact you to discuss the required work inside your home or business. If you aren’t available, a door tag will be left with contact information to schedule an appointment.
WILL YOU NEED TO DIG IN MY YARD, SIDEWALK OR DRIVEWAY AND IF YOU DO, WHO’S GOING TO FIX IT?
Because all natural gas pipelines are buried, some digging will be necessary. We will try to minimize the amount of digging required. If we disturb your yard, sidewalk and/or driveway, we will repair affected areas as soon as weather permits. Initial restoration, such as leveling of surfaces, will be completed as the project progresses.
For more information, visit
ColumbiaGasOhio.com/projects
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IF I SMELL GAS WHILE YOU’RE WORKING?
Take action immediately. Natural gas has a rotten egg odor that alerts you to a leak. If you smell an odor of gas: Leave the area immediately. Don’t turn lights or electronics off or on, or operate any other switches. Call 911 and 1-800-344-4077 from a safe location. If our crews are working in the area, you also may contact the on-site project supervisor after you have called 1-800-344-4077.
HOW LONG WILL MY GAS BE TURNED OFF?
Your gas service will be temporarily turned off when we come to work on your meter. If your meter is already outside, your gas service will still be turned off when we connect your service line to the gas main line. This outage will be brief, usually between 2–4 hours. Once we’re done, we will need to get back inside your home or business so we can perform a safety check of your natural gas appliances and inside gas lines, turn on your gas and relight your appliances. Note: Someone 18 years or older must be at your home or business and pets must be secured when we’re there to work on your meter and turn your gas back on.
WILL YOU BLOCK MY STREET OR DRIVEWAY?
We may temporarily block access to an entire street, lane or even a driveway. If you need access to your driveway, let our crews know. When it is safe to do so, they will accommodate your request. Most of our digging will be in the grassy part of the public right-of-way and yards but often our equipment is in the street while we are working. We will work with neighborhoods to minimize road closures and blockages, but please be alert and use caution around our work zones.
HOW DO I KNOW THINGS WILL BE RESTORED TO THEIR EXISTING CONDITION? At the start of the project, we document your property’s current state. We may even capture photos or video footage.
I’M NOT A COLUMBIA GAS CUSTOMER, WILL MY HOME OR BUSINESS BE AFFECTED?
If you are receiving this communication, your home or business may be impacted by construction activity in your area.
HOW CAN I ADD ADDITIONAL NATURAL GAS APPLIANCES?
If you’re interested in adding new gas appliances, please let us know. We’ll share any rebates or incentive programs available for adding or upgrading your natural gas equipment.
Note: If you have received this information and you are not the current property owner, please forward this information to the landlord or property owner immediately.
For more information, visit
ColumbiaGasOhio.com/projects
OUR CLEAN-UP PROCESS
When we are nearing the end of our gas line replacement process, we will put things back in order. It is our responsibility to repair or replace any portion of streets, sidewalks, driveways, yards, etc. disrupted by our work.
What’s Next:
1
Temporary Patching
Our goal is to ensure the construction area is safe and accessible until permanent repairs can be made. Throughout the project, we may put a temporary patch on your streets and sidewalks.
2 Permanent Paving and Concrete
Once the project is complete, we will begin the permanent replacement or repair on your streets and sidewalks. We will work with your community to repair with similar surfaces. For example, concrete will be replaced with concrete and asphalt will be replaced with asphalt, according to community codes. This work usually takes place three to four weeks after the replacement work is done, but the schedule may be impacted by weather conditions and other factors.
3
Lawn Repair
This will include filling in holes with dirt, leveling the area, laying down topsoil, reseeding the grass and replacing plants and flower beds. Please make sure to water and mow your grass to encourage desired results.
We appreciate your patience. This clean-up process will take us several weeks to complete once the gas line replacement work is done. You may see us surveying the area with GPS technology after the project is complete.
For more information, visit
ColumbiaGasOhio.com/projects