Columbia Gas of Ohio is investing approximately $2 million in the city of Urbana through two major pipeline replacement projects in 2017. The company will upgrade almost three miles of natural gas main lines and more than 250 customer service lines to increase reliability, enhance safety and reduce maintenance in years to come.

The first project is expected to start this week and all construction is estimated to be completed by the end of the year. It includes work on a number of streets near Heritage Drive, Liberty Lane, Pearce Place, South Main Street and South U.S. Route 68.

The second project includes work near West Powell Avenue, Park Avenue, South Main Street and South Kenton Street, with construction set to begin once the first project is completed.

There will be a temporary interruption of natural gas service in the project area. Columbia Gas will personally contact customers to schedule the work at their residence or business. Customers with indoor meters will have their meters relocated to the outside of their premises, service lines replaced, and all property disturbed as a result of the activity will be restored. This work will be done at no additional cost to the customer.

These projects are part of the company’s larger 25-year program to invest more than $2 billion to replace over 4,000 miles of pipeline in neighborhoods across the state. By replacing the aging cast iron and bare steel pipe with new infrastructure it reduces leaks. As a result, the number of leaks have fallen 41 percent since the program started.

In addition, some of the pipe being replaced was installed prior to 1950 and the property taxes have greatly depreciated over time. Since 2008 Columbia Gas has paid close to $100 million in additional property taxes in Ohio, which directly supports local governments and schools.

Columbia Gas has more than 60 similar projects planned this year across Ohio. For additional information on the company’s infrastructure replacement projects, visit www.ColumbiaGasOhio.com/Replacement.