By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle Utilities is advertising for bids to install three steel casings under I-65 at the Thompson Road interchange to facilitate the future expansion of sewer, gas and water services to the west side of the interstate.
A bid notice published in this edition of the Hartselle Enquirer calls for the casings to be 12 inches in diameter and 335 feet long. Bids will be accepted until May 30 at 11 a.m.. The project should be completed within 45 calendar days from the date of notice to proceed.
"This is a step primarily aimed at meeting our need to have a second natural gas supply source," HU General Manager Ferrell Vest said. "Southern Natural Gas Company has a North-South transmission line running along the west side of the interstate. We signed a contract with them to tap into their line last month."
Vest said the city currently has only one natural gas supplier-Alabama-Tennessee Natural Gas Company-and the city's gas supply is routed through a north gate station.
"Opening a gateway on the south side of the city with a different company will enhance the safety and reliability of our delivery system, Vest said. "It also will put us in a position of being able to serve future customers on the east side of the interstate."
One of the three casings would be used to link Southern Natural's main line to a city main on Thompson Road. The other two casings would be available as future sewer and water links
Vest said the sewer bore is a step ahead of plans for a gravity flow sewer interceptor that is needed to extend sewer service to the I-65 and Thompson Road interchange. He added that engineering drawings on that project are 60 per cent complete.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said having a second source of natural gas supply is a plus for the city. He also pointed out that having a sewer bore under I-65 is a step in the right direction as far as the future development of the east side of the interstate is concerned.
The desire for similar borings under I-65 at the Highway 36 interchange was expressed by city officials several weeks ago and discussion of a jointly funded project between the two entities was initiated. Vest said the proposed project is in the preliminary engineering phase.
CDG Engineering &Associates of Albertville is doing the engineering work for the Thompson Road &I-65 boring project.