Atlanta Gas Light is retiring a large diameter pipeline that runs under several streets in the City of Decatur. The work in Decatur is part of a longer pipeline that runs approximately 28 miles from Riverdale to the intersection of Clairmont Road and Buford Highway. The pipeline being retired or taken out of service dates back to the 1950s. It was replaced with a new pipeline – the Eastside Pipeline – that went into service in early 2014. There is currently no gas on the old pipeline but to completely retire it, it must be filled with concrete or “grouted” under roadways.
The preparatory work for grouting in Decatur has already been completed on E. College Avenue and Sycamore Drive. It is now expected to begin on Candler Road/Street as soon as the week of July 6 and could last up to 4 weeks for the entire process. The work will require temporary lane/road closures and commuters should expect traffic delays for 2-3 days at a time during the retirement process.
General locations of affected areas on Candler Road/Street are:
• Past Hosea Williams Drive (City of Atlanta)
• Before Driftwood Terrace
• Past Buchanan Terrace
• Near E. Davis Street
• E. Davis Street at Candler Street will be closed
• Near E. Dougherty Street
•E. Dougherty Street at Candler Street will be closed
• Before E. College Avenue
Appropriate traffic control will be in place at active work sites and Atlanta Gas Light is coordinating with the City on traffic control measures and communications to neighborhoods in the vicinity of work sites. Local residents are encouraged to use alternate routes where possible during the grouting. Work will be performed during permitted daylight hours Monday through Saturday.
Retirement under roadways is multi-step process and different activities may be happening at the same time in more than one location. Activities include:
Excavations
•“Grout” points are dug up in the road approximately every 1000 -1500 feet
• Excavation sites are about the width of a traffic lane and may be up to 25 feet long
• Generally occur 3-6 days before the line is filled with concrete
• Grout points are plated when not in use
• Multiple grout points allow process to move more efficiently
Grouting
• Several concrete mixers per day will arrive at a grout point to pump concrete into the pipe
• Grouting cannot be stopped once it is started
• Grouting generally lasts the full work day
Restoration
• Once a grout point is no longer needed, the excavation will be filled with concrete
• The sites will be paved once all work on a street is completed
• Disturbed areas in the right of
