Photo by Lester Smith
Two big excavators are used as cranes on August 25 to maneuver a 120-ft section of gas pipe (three 40-ft lengths) into its trench behind 1497 North Street. For many longer lengths being lowered, multiple small cranes more specifically designed for the task are used.
Considerable progress has been made on the new Tennessee Gas pipeline through town toward its scheduled completion this fall. By mid-September, borings have been completed under four of the five roads to be crossed that way, and many pipe sections had been lowered into their trenches; it seemed as if about a third of the distance had been set down, much of it covered with backfill. Where necessary in Suffield’s many wetlands, weights have been added to keep the pipe from floating up like those coffins in New Orleans after Katrina.
A large fraction of the pipes laid out along the rest of the distance across town are now welded together. Most of the welding is done above ground, but some must be accomplished in “bell holes” excavated at joints to be connected after long pipe sections are lowered. Every weld is carefully X-rayed, then the joints are coated in situ with abrasion and corrosion resistant material.
By mid-September, effort had resumed at the last remaining under-road bore in Suffield at Mountain Road, where the attempt had been interrupted in early August because of too much water. Planned road cuts to be made for the Halladay Avenue West and Hale Street crossings had not yet been started. Cuts for some farm roads and at least one home driveway have been made with special effort to minimize the time the roads are blocked.
In an admirable display of respect, pipeline work at the Mountain Road crossing was halted on September 12 and a giant American flag was suspended from an excavator bucket to honor ETM 2nd Class Dustin Doyon as his funeral procession passed on the way from Sacred Heart Church to the West Suffield Cemetery.
Considerable overtime effort has been expended, including work under big floodlights. In response to this reporter’s inquiry, Tennessee Gas headquarters in Houston reported on September 15: “The general restoration process for the entire right-of-way is expected to be completed by November 1.”