Traffic on Louise Avenue through Lathrop is about to be impacted for the next month while PG&E crews prepare for the installation of 700 feet of 8-inch  pipe to serve as a new transmission line to get natural gas to customers in a portion of the community that is primed for growth.
Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. work crews will work to complete the prep work prior to the installation of the pipe itself – a process that could take up to a month to get everything checked and repaired before a high-water pressure test is executed to determine whether the pipe will be able to hold compressed natural gas. Once all of that is effectively installed and checked, the roadway itself will be replaced by crews who had to create space in order to lay the pipeline.
According to PG&E Government Relations liaison Dylan George, crews managing the construction will try everything in their power to limit the construction to the center lane – allowing traffic to continue to flow in both directions. Periodically, George said, one of the other two lanes would be closed temporarily as a larger portion of the project is worked on, and the idea that both lanes would be blocked and prevent traffic from passing completely isn’t off the table, but such employ would be unlikely.
The installation of the pipeline is the first step to help expand Lathrop’s existing gas line system – adding a new transmission line that will provide more capacity to help cater to a growing community.
The cost for the construction will come from the collective gas fund that every PG&E customer pays into for maintenance and other necessary upkeep. Once it’s installed, Lathrop will not have to pay a dime towards the new construction.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.