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Gas line near school to be out by spring, official says
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CAGED: An above-ground gas line was placed just off Cardinal Drive, by Canfield High School, several months ago while Columbia Gas of Ohio crews work on finishing underground lines that will supply more gas to an industrial business. The above-ground line is temporary and will be removed in the spring.
By Elise Franco
CANFIELD — An above-ground gas line by Canfield High School is just temporary, said a Columbia Gas official.
The line, which sits at the end of the school’s Cardinal Drive property line near the athletic fields, was put up to increase gas flow to one of Columbia Gas of Ohio’s major industrial customers, said Dave Rau, communications and community-relations manager. He said about 174 residential residents in Canfield also are receiving increased gas flow as a result.
“We needed to upgrade our system in the area to provide them with more gas,” he said. “We had to increase the pressure on our pipeline in the area.”
Rau said the temporary line was installed late last year while crews worked on completing the underground lines necessary to supply the added gas load. He said that once winter weather breaks, crews will be back out to finish the underground lines and remove the above-ground line on Cardinal Drive.
“We have gotten part way through the project, but we got toward the winter-heating season and were not able to complete it,” he said. “We decided to put in the temporary facility and get the customers through the winter.”
Though the line is temporary, school and city officials have some safety concerns about its close proximity to the school and the street.
Canfield School District Superintendent Dante Zambrini said the area could pose a hazard to students who may try to get near the gas line; and to motorists, especially during heavy snow, because the line is so close to the street.
“Any time something is on the easement, it’s a safety concern,” he said.
City Manager Joe Warino said the city is aware of possible risks and thinks the chain-link fence and concrete barriers on each side will keep people away.
“Anything within the road right of way causes a concern,” he said. “That’s why the barriers were put there.”
Zambrini said he’ll be happy when the line is removed.
“Columbia Gas is very respectable, and any time we’ve had issues as a district, they’ve responded quickly,” he said. “I trust they would do everything to make it safe for all involved.”
Rau said every safety precaution was taken to make sure the gas-line area is secure as a temporary structure. He said he doesn’t have an exact time line for when crews will be able to start working, but once they are out, the work should be finished quickly.
“We want to get the work finished as soon as we can,” he said. “We’re looking forward to being able to remove” the gas line.
efranco@vindy,com