A $100 million project to make natural gas a more reliable source of energy in Queens is underway beginning this week, and the project will include the construction of six miles of new gas mains.
National Grid is responsible for the construction and said the Queens Gas Reliability Project is aimed at improving safety and reliability and supporting energy needs of the local community.
“As we look to the future and increased demand for natural gas, the Queens Reliability Project is a perfect example of National Grid’s commitment to modernizing our network and helping customers take control of their energy use,” said Mike Ruiz, director of community and customer management at National Grid. “By strengthening the network we can support increased customer demand and give customers a choice to take advantage of new technologies and renewable energy sources.”
National Grid and its contracting company, Network Infrastructure, will install more than six miles of new gas mains through central Queens from Rockaway Boulevard to just north of the Long Island Expressway, which they say will provide enough natural gas to meet the growing energy needs of customers.
Following the installation, crews will be working in neighborhoods along the route to upgrade the natural gas service in the local communities. All of the work is expected to be finished by the spring of 2016.
The new project is part of National Grid’s $1.3 billion effort to modernize the natural gas system in New York State over the next two years. They will be focusing on replacing aging mains to enhance the safety and integrity of their system, and installing new mains and other facilities to accommodate their growing number of customers.
National Grid said the Queens project will ensure a reliable supply of environmentally friendly natural gas to support New York City’s energy efficiency and sustainability goals.
Crews will be setting short-term goals to minimize disruption as much as possible but, as some of the work will be going on in the streets, National Grid warned motorists and pedestrians to be cautious around work sites.
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