Unitil, (Unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, is set to resume work next week on its multi-year pipeline improvement project in the Portland area.
A limited number of crews is expected to begin working in the area of Dirigo Street and Forest Avenue on April 11 as part of the company’s System Upgrade for Reliable Energy (SURE) project, which involves replacing or upgrading natural gas pipeline throughout Portland.
Additional crews will begin work on April 17 in other locations in Portland.
The work in 2023 will be focused on three zones in particular, including Forest Avenue from Libby Street to just north of Hartley Street, including side streets; the Parkside area – bounded by Park Avenue to the north, High Street to the east, Congress Street to the south, and Saint John Street to the west; the Brighton Corner area, including Dirigo Street, Stevens Avenue from just north of Woodford Street to Brighton Avenue, Belknap Street, the northern portions of Caleb Street and Craigie Street, Frances Street, and Massachusetts Avenue.
The 14-year SURE project, which began in 2011 and is scheduled for completion during the 2024 construction season, is replacing older cast iron pipes and unprotected steel pipes with state-of-the-art plastic piping to allow the system to operate at a higher pressure and improve reliability.
"As we enter the thirteenth year of this critical infrastructure enhancement project, we would like to thank the many residents and businesses for their patience and continued cooperation and support. This has been a multi-year effort, and while we may be nearing the home stretch, there’s still work to be done as we move toward a more reliable natural gas system," said Unitil External Affairs Manager Alec O'Meara.
While crews have completed an average of approximately 7.5 miles of pipes each year since the start of the project, they expect to finish 9.5 miles in 2023 with this season’s work scheduled to wrap up in November. Just over 700 service lines within the planned work area are also scheduled for upgrades this year.
There may be times when crews are working in an area where the city has closed the road and established detours for work on its own projects, particularly in the area of Congress Street. The pipeline improvement work has been planned to coincide with any local, city, and state projects along with Unitil’s routine maintenance of the distribution system. Drivers should be aware of the ongoing work and the potential for some minor traffic delays.
New England Utility Constructors (NEUCO) is the contractor for the SURE project.
The improvement project will allow Unitil to offer natural gas service to new customers who live near the existing pipeline. Residents and businesses in the neighborhood who are interested in switching to natural gas should call Unitil today at 1-888-4-UNITIL, or fill out an online form. For the latest information about the SURE project and construction schedules, please call 800-808-4047.
For an updated project map and general summary of the work plan, please visit Unitil.com/SURE.
