Gas pipe needed for added demand
A new gas pipeline was installed Tuesday deep under the Trans-Canada Highway near Sixth Street to provide additional capacity to Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.
“This pipe is connecting a gas pressure control station ... to primarily increase system capacity in that area that in particular serves the hospital and the hospital expansion,” said Brian Murphy, manager of gas distribution for the city. “The expansion of the hospital changes the gas demand profile in the area, which requires us to reinforce the gas supply to that area.”
For about a week crews could be seen up on the hill near Auto Star, above the Clarion Hotel. An eight-inch yellow gas pipe was on the surface until Tuesday when horizontal drilling took place five to six metres under the surface of the highway. Murphy says it is similar to drilling a gas well. Extensions are added to the drill until the required distance is covered.
“A drill rig bores the hole under the highway from one side to the other and then that same drill pulls the preassembled pipe back through that hole so that the pipe then spans from one side to the other,” said Murphy.
The pipe will then connect with one already installed along Valleyview Avenue — in front of Valleyview Seniors Residence, which has been closed to traffic for a few days.
“We did several days preparation on both sides of the highway,” said Murphy, who anticipated being able to pull the drill back under the highway late on Tuesday. That part of the job was accomplished in just a day. Work will continue Wednesday with installation of the pipe going up the hill.
It may have looked as though there were two gas pipes on the ground coming down the hill but in fact only one is being installed, said Murphy.
It will not be necessary to dig up any part of Red Deer Drive to connect the pipe on Valleyview Avenue, said Murphy.
Traffic flow in the area, along Prospect Drive, Valleyview Drive and Red Deer Drive has been affected since the end of May when work began on Prospect Drive installing the new gas pipeline.
The work is the fourth and final phase of the project and was timed for when the additional demand will occur with occupation of hospital expansion, said Murphy.
Traffic should be flowing by the end of the week as it did before work began in the area, said Murphy, who is grateful for the patience of the public.