Increasing demand for gas in areas served by an obsolete pipeline prompted Consumers Energy to engage SSOE’s engineering and procurement services to upgrade and replace the line. The project included developing multiple iterations of the routing plan so that it avoided recreational areas. SSOE assisted in obtaining permits from the township and various other agencies. The approved route added two miles to the line making the 24 inch pipe 11 miles in length. SSOE also designed a temporary bypass to maintain gas service while the two-and-a-half year project was completed.
One of the existing meter stations was demolished and replaced and included the addition of a separation wall as a safety measure in the event of a gas leak. The other station was upgraded and remodeled. SSOE developed renderings of the stations and designed landscaping to meet the client’s goal of creating a residential character to these buildings to allow them to blend into the surroundings.
Procurement proved to be challenging due to the extent of supplies and materials that had to be pre-purchased and the difficulty of obtaining the needed parts. SSOE responded to the challenge with careful tracking and tight coordination of the procurement process.
