Beginning July 5, PSE&G will be working in Kearny to replace approximately 5 miles of aging cast iron gas pipes with new, durable plastic and/or coated steel piping – ensuring the continued safety and reliability of our gas system well into the future.
Work will take place Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., conditions permitting. The gas main replacement and street restoration is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
View the streets where work will take place.
What are the benefits of the new pipes?
These upgrades are part of our three-year program to replace up to 510 miles of aging gas infrastructure throughout New Jersey. The new pipes will improve reliability, reduce the possibility of methane leaks, and enable the installation of excess flow valves on service lines. These valves dramatically reduce gas flow if a pipe is damaged. The elevated pressure of the new gas mains will also provide better support for high-efficiency appliances like furnaces and water heaters.
What will the work look like?
Before construction can start, the utility tests soil and digs test holes to verify the location of existing gas mains. When this preliminary work is complete, PSE&G will begin installing the new gas mains and upgrading associated service lines that carry the gas to homes and businesses.
- To upgrade the gas pipes, PSE&G crews will dig trenches, primarily in road surfaces, and lay new pipes block by block, so we can limit the impacted areas on any given day. There will be short-term road closures and detours during construction. Local police will direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic. At the end of each workday, the trenches will be filled in, and plates secured, on any open areas so people can safely drive and walk.
- After the new gas mains are installed, PSE&G will need to access customers’ homes to connect their service lines and meter. PSE&G will contact homeowners to arrange a date and time to do the connections. During this work, customers will be without gas service for approximately four hours. We regret any inconvenience this may cause. Any lawn areas, shrubs or other vegetation affected by our work will be restored. Grass areas will be raked and seeded.
- PSE&G repairs roads with temporary pavement until the ground settles.This takes about 45 to 90 days, depending on the weather and soil conditions. PSE&G then restores the roads with permanent paving in accordance with town ordinance and paving requirements.
- PSE&G crews will use work area protection including traffic cones, utility work signs, and barriers to ensure the job is done safely. The utility reminds motorists to slow down and follow detour signs when driving through the construction area.
How will roads be restored?
- PSE&G repairs roads with temporary pavement until the ground settles.This takes about 45 to 90 days, depending on the weather and soil conditions. PSE&G then restores the roads with permanent paving in accordance with town ordinance and paving requirements.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call our Trenton Gas district office at 609-421-8018. Once the work has started, you may also speak to the supervisor on the job site.
Learn more about the writer ...
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.