Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 07-05-2016
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Engineering and Construction Department
Title:
title
Presentation on Hillside Drive Street Closure due to natural gas leak of Oklahoma Natural Gas transmission line at Albany Street (East 61st Street South) intersection
End
Background:
On June 27, 2016, Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) contacted City Administration to notify the City that ONG had confirmed that there is a gas leak in or around the Hillside Drive and Albany Street (East 61st Street South) intersection. In order to expose the pipeline and investigate the potential source of the leak and then respond in accordance with the State of Oklahoma Corporation Commission regulations, ONG requested that the City close Hillside Drive at Albany Street immediately. After further discussions, ONG has agreed to wait until after the 4th of July weekend in order to allow pre-planned festivities associated with the local businesses to continue without interruption.
In accordance with Section 23-28(a) of the Broken Arrow Code, the City Manager has authorized the closure of Hillside Drive at the intersection of Albany Street to through traffic. Barricades will be placed along Hillside Drive at the Albany Street intersection, as well as at the south end of the grass median immediately north of the southwest entryway to Lone Star Steakhouse. The businesses along Hillside Drive will still have access. Appropriate signage along 9th Street (Lynn Lane) will be set up notifying the public that businesses may still be accessed, but the street is closed to through traffic. Public notification began on July 1, 2016, to alert the motorists of the activity.
ONG anticipates this effort will take up to two (2) weeks from the time of commencement; however, it should be noted that ONEOK has a 24-inch diameter gas line in close proximity to the ONG 18-inch diameter transmission line. If, in fact, ONG discovers that their 18-inch line is not the source of the leak, then the Corporation Commission will require ONEOK to investigate their transmission line and respond according to state regulations as well. If this potential scenario proves to be true, then ONEOK most likely will be required to close the intersection as well, thereby extending the duration of the closure.
Realizing the adverse impact on City residents, Staff recognized an opportunity to minimize additional closures of this same intersection and has directed the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center Utility Contractor, Davis H. Elliot, to install the required 12-inch diameter water main extension that must connect to an existing water main presently located in the intersection. This work will only take a few days and can be performed safely and efficiently at the same time ONG is working along Hillside Drive.
The eastbound and westbound traffic along Albany Street will remain open, but will be limited to outside single lanes in each direction to allow the work in the median to commence simultaneously.
Engineering and Construction Department staff will make a presentation on authorized street closure at the intersection.
Cost: $0
Prepared By: Jeff Bigby, PE, CFM, Acting Director of Engineering and Construction
Reviewed By: Assistant City Manager - Operations
Legal Department
Approved By: Michael L. Spurgeon, City Manager
Attachments: None
Recommendation:
No action required.