Smack dab in the center of Big Dig city.

Your east-west options in Old Town Eureka are rapidly diminishing. First the city digs up First Street/Waterfront in order to connect its two halves … and now Third Street is gonna be dug up for a while too. PG&E is replacing gas lines.

We’ll get through this! We still have Second Street! And when everyone is all done, everything is going to be shinier and newer and safer than it once was.

OK! Press release from PG&E:

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is enhancing the safety and reliability of its natural gas system in Humboldt County. As part of PG&E’s Pipeline Replacement Program, the company is replacing gas distribution lines that run through downtown Eureka. Those in the area of 3rd Street should expect traffic delays for the next three months.

Starting Thursday, September 12, PG&E gas crews will begin work at various locations, depending on the week, along H, I, J and K Streets, from 2nd to 4th. 

For the safety of the public and workers, there will be some road closures throughout the duration of the project and some roads may be condensed from two-lane roads to one-lane roads. To aid drivers through the construction zone, PG&E has hired contractors for traffic management.

Traffic control crews will start setting up at 7am Monday through Saturday, with construction happening between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Residents and businesses in the area received letters and automated phone calls about the work.

As the project progresses, crews may release natural gas from the pipeline and will follow all necessary safety requirements. This is also called venting the line. As PG&E purges gas from the line, the smell of natural gas and the sound of venting may be noticeable. The natural gas released during venting will quickly dissipate into the atmosphere and will not be harmful. However, PG&E encourages anyone who has concerns about natural gas odors in or around their home or business to call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

Gas service to customers will not be impacted during the project. Barring inclement weather or other factors, the gas safety project is expected to be complete by the end of November.

For more information on PG&E’s gas safety programs, visit www.pge.com/gassafety and click on “Safety Initiatives”.