Document text
Gas pipeline marches toward completion Sunday Jan 21, 2007 at 2:00 AM Dec 19, 2010 at 3:03 AM Bill Miller,for the Mail Tribune SHADY COVE & 8212; With most of Avista Utilities' 111/2 mile natural gas pipeline now buried in trenches along Highway 62 between Shady Cove and Eagle Point, the company and city officials have begun coordinating the next two major steps in the 3-month-old project. The gas line, distinct from a proposal to build a major supply line from the coast to Northern California, will be brought into the northern half of town by holes bored through the rock under Indian Creek and the Rogue River. "Dates for the bores aren't final yet," said Shady Cove Public Works Director George Bostic, "but the locations are pretty well firmed up and their engineer has done a great job of getting it lined up. They know exactly where they're going in and where they'll be coming out." Bostic met Wednesday with Matt Mullineaux, Avista's Shady Cove project manager. "As far as the Rogue goes," said Bostic, "he indicated to me that they'll be going in just west of Guadalajara Restaurant and come out on the other side of the river, between the River House and Edgewater Inn." Shady Cove City Administrator Elise Smurzynski said that boring under the river is more expensive in the short run when compared with above-ground solutions, but in the long run it turns out to be more cost effective. " boring, you don't have pipes exposed to the weather, so maintenance costs should be less," she said. "Also, you don't have some ugly pipes hanging off of the bridge." Bostic said that once the pipeline is run under the Rogue River, "they'll trench it over to Rogue River Drive and then tie it in with the new White Oak Ridge subdivision, which already has gas lines installed underground as part of their development." Avista representatives began talking with the White Oak developers long before starting work on the pipeline. "From our perspective it's very important to get to the new developments early, because they need to know how to build them," said Deborah Martin, Avista's director of operations for Medford. "We've focused our path to get to the new construction first because they will be ready to hook up." Martin said that the company has also been talking with Shady Cove Waterworks, the private company that is planning to build the city's first water network. "We want to be tearing up the same street at the same time ... ," she said. "That will be better for customers and obviously reduce costs for both companies." The company had expected to complete the pipeline and have natural gas available for Shady Cove by March, but rain and subsequent mud have caused some delays. "They're moving right along now," said Bostic. "They're starting to pick up speed again and I really think they're going to make their target date." In order to keep the public informed, Mullineaux has announced two community meetings that will be held from — to — p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m on Feb. 12 in the Shady Cove Community Center. "People will be able to find out about Avista and our plans," he said. "Also, those who want the service will be able to find out how to get connected." is a freelance writer living in Shady Cove. Reach him at [email protected]. — — if (!title) { var title="Article from the MailTribune.com"; }if (!tags) { var tags="mail tribune medford oregon news newspaper" }document.write ("");