Glen Ellen commuters find Arnold Dr. construction a summer distraction

Commuters and residents along Arnold Drive south of Glen Ellen have been experiencing one-way traffic and road work for the past month, and according to PG&E, they can look forward to more of the same for another two months.

It’s all in the interest of providing safe and reliable gas delivery service from the utility provider, PG&E.

Road contractors are working along Arnold Drive, between Madrone and Agua Caliente, replacing over a half-mile of underground gas distribution line in three different sections – of 1,414 feet, 650 feet and 766 feet. The three sections will be replaced in series, but the work will be steady until the end of August or so, said PG&E spokesperson Deanna Contreras.

The distribution line replacement is part of a regional upgrade of gas delivery systems, converting from older steel pipes that are subject to erosion to new polyethylene piping. The new distribution and service lines will make unnecessary older high-pressure regulators (HPR), which will be removed as well.

The work, by Teichert Construction, takes place during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. Traffic is flag-controlled to one lane only, in alternating directions, during work hours. When active work is not ongoing, after-hours or on weekends, traffic flow returns to two-way but steel plates will cover excavation areas.

Many residents of the area should have already been notified in print if their homes are to be affected and when crews may need to go onto private property to replace the service and taplines. Automated ‘robo-calls’ may also be used to contact residents.

All customers are encouraged to update their account at pge.com/myaccount with current contact information to assure they are informed of projects that might affect them, including a coming public safety power shut-off program.

Following the distribution and service line repairs, which should be completed by the end of August, the lines will be leak- and pressure-tested for quality assurance and safety. The road surface will be replaced and repaired as the three projects are completed. Contreras said the first section has already been completed and the road repaved to county standards.

Customers will be unaffected, and there should be no interruption in utility service, said Contreras.