Hawkinsville breaks ground on gas pipeline replacement project

City Manager Sara Myers says replacing the bare steel pipe with polyethylene will make the city safer.

HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41 NBC/WMGT) — The City of Hawkinsville celebrated the groundbreaking of a 5.4-mile gas pipeline replacement project on Wednesday.

The project was made possible through a $680,316 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Hawkinsville City Manager Sara Myers says replacing the bare steel pipe with polyethylene will make the city safer.

“Bare steel gas lines are prone to leaks,” Myers said. “And it’s imperative for our environment and our citizens that we maintain safe infrastructure. That’s why we are super excited to get started with this project and have the replacement lines put in.”

Myers says the project concludes the 18-mile stretch of bare steel pipe replacement Hawkinsville has completed over the last five years. Myers worked with city commissioners and the DOT to secure the grant and begin the pipeline replacement project. Replacing the bare steel pipes with polyethylene pipes will help local utility companies keep costs down for ratepayers.

Howard “Mac” McMillan, the Executive Director of the DOT’S Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, says the new pipes will help stop environmental contamination from leaks, improving the quality of air and life of people in Hawkinsville.

“These pipes are specifically designed to withstand more volatile temperatures and pressure, significantly improving reliability and the safety of this pipeline network,” McMillan said. 

The grant stipulates that the gas pipeline replacement project is complete by the end of the year.