Eversource is replacing gas service lines beneath 5,000 feet of Darien streets this summer as Aquarion replaces about as many feet of water main lines under other town roads, according to separate announcements Wednesday.
Two of the projects start around June 20, according to the announcements. A third project, replacing a water line, starts soon after July 4.
Natural Gas
For the gas lines, in a project which is completely separate from the planned extension of natural gas lines in town, West Avenue will see construction crews from the Stamford Border to Moore Street, on Moore Street itself as well as on Holmes Avenue, Robinson, Brown, Catherine, Hazel, and Kelsey Streets.
Get used to this sign. You’ll be seeing a lot of it this summer.
Other streets where pipes will be replaced: Holmes Avenue, Robinson, Brown, Catherine, Hazel, Kelsey and Moore streets. Work is expected to end by September.
“Customers may experience a short disruption to their natural gas service when the new main is being activated and they will be notified in advance by letter, phone or an in-person visit,” Eversource says in its announcement (see full text below).
Water
Along 1,000 feet of Noroton Avenue from Chestnut Street to Middlesex Road, the existing water main, 12 inches in diameter, will be replaced by a 16-inch ductile iron water main. Aquarion is calling it “a new water distribution ‘backbone’ for the town of Darien.”
Beginning July 5, with completion expected by the end of August, the company will also replace a 4,000-foot stretch of the existing water main lines on Middlesex Road and then Mansfield Avenue.
“During the project, customers in the area may experience temporary service disruptions or discolored water,” the company announced. The utility recommends storing water in your refrigerator for drinking and cooking, in case service stops or the water gets discolored.
“Customers also should refrain from washing laundry if water is discolored,” the utility said. “Prior to resuming use, customers should run their cold water faucets until the water appears clear.”
Eversource Announcement
Here’s the full announcement:
As part of Eversource’s work to upgrade its natural gas distribution system, the company is investing $1.8 million on projects in the town of Darien this summer, beginning the week of June 20.
The work involves replacing 5,000 feet of existing cast iron and bare steel gas main with newer plastic pipe — which is safer, more durable and better able to handle fluctuations in underground temperatures. In the past five years, Eversource has replaced more than 100 miles of older gas main around the state.
“As state-of- the-art materials and construction techniques advance, we continue upgrading our system to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas,” said Marc Andrukiewicz, Eversource vice president of gas engineering.
“Each year, we review the system’s performance and identify areas to make necessary and valuable improvements to maintain a first-rate natural gas distribution system.”
The work in Darien is taking place along West Avenue and Holmes Avenue, as well as Robinson, Brown, Catherine, Hazel, Kelsey and Moore Streets.
Eversource communicates with community leaders and customers where work is being done to minimize the impact to traffic and coordinate with other roadwork happening in the town.
Customers may experience a short disruption to their natural gas service when the new main is being activated and they will be notified in advance by letter, phone or an in-person visit. These gas main improvement projects are expected to be complete by September.
For information on Eversource’s natural gas expansion efforts, visit Eversource.com.
Aquarion Announcement
Here’s the full text of the Aquarion Water Co. announcement:
Aquarion Water Company today announced water main replacement projects on Noroton Avenue from Chestnut Street to Middlesex Road, and on Middlesex Road and Mansfield Avenue from Ox Ridge Lane to Tower Drive.
Scheduled to begin June 20, 2016, the work on Noroton Avenue is expected to be completed in four weeks. The project will replace a total of 1,000 feet of existing water main with 16-inch ductile iron main, as part of the company’s improvement plan to create a new water distribution “backbone” for the Town of Darien.
The second project will begin July 5 on Middlesex Road followed by Mansfield Avenue, a state road. This project will replace a total of 4,000 feet of existing water main with 16-inch ductile iron main. Construction is expected to be completed by end of August.
During the project, customers in the area may experience temporary service disruptions or discolored water. Aquarion recommends customers store water in their refrigerators for drinking and cooking, in case these circumstances arise.
Customers also should refrain from washing laundry if water is discolored. Prior to resuming use, customers should run their cold water faucets until the water appears clear.
“We greatly appreciate residents’ patience during these projects,” said Dan Lawrence, Aquarion’s Director of Engineering & Planning. “We will work closely with our customers, contractors, and town and state officials to coordinate the work and minimize disruption.”
Due to construction, customers should expect minor traffic delays and possible detours during the working hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Burns Construction, based in Stratford, was chosen as the contractor for these main replacement projects.
Customers with project-related questions may contact Alan Huth, Aquarion’s Manager of Utility Programs, at (203) 362-3070. For service or water-related issues, please contact Aquarion Customer Service at 1-800-732-9678.
Correction: Although Eversource plans to extend natural gas service in Darien, this project will only replace existing gas lines, despite what was said in an earlier version of this story and despite the word “expansion” in the last line of their announcement, above. The utility expects to have more information on the expansion project later.