Ameren Illinois has announced a $2-million natural gas line replacement project is getting underway on the north side of Centralia and a portion of Central City.
Ameren’s Brian Bretsch says two miles of natural gas pipeline is being replaced for approximately 160 customers along portions of Elm, Poplar, Broadway and Commercial Streets.
“We are replacing some of our 1960’s era pipeline that we checked the safety and integrity of our lines all the time, and anything that has placed in the ground between 1950’s through 1970’s, Ameren Illinois is replacing that steel pipeline and coming back and putting in polyethylene which is a harder plastic and does much better in terms of aging over time.”
Bretsch anticipates the work being completed by the end of June, weather permitting. He notes there will be a brief interruption of natural gas service while services are being switched over to the new line.
Ameren Illinois has more than a dozen full-time natural gas professionals in the Centralia-Mt. Vernon area who maintain the system, respond to gas leaks free of charge, 24/7, install new services and perform construction projects.
Ameren Illinois is asking motorists driving through the area of the construction work to be mindful of the trucks moving and employees working near the streets and to slow down in the work zone.
