Richmond receives additional $39M to replace aging natural gas pipes

Richmond, VA – Today, the City of Richmond was awarded $39 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). This award is the largest award in the country and adds to the $10 million awarded to Richmond in April of 2023. The grant funds will strengthen the region’s natural gas distribution system, managed by the Department of Public Utilities, and improve the city’s environmental responsiveness by accelerating the modernization of gas pipelines that will keep citizens safe and energy costs down.

City of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney accepted the grant award, as he thanked the Biden-Harris administration and our federal partners, DOT and PHMSA, as well as our representatives in Congress – Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. Mayor Stoney says, “These grant funds are hugely important as we continue to mitigate safety risks from legacy natural gas distribution pipes, particularly in underserved communities. Investments like this show a collective commitment to the safety and well-being of our communities. My administration has focused on equity since day one, which is why I’m proud Richmond can continue the work of providing access to reliable and affordable energy without further burdening ratepayers.”

Presenting the award was Massoud Tahamtani, PHMSA’s Deputy Associate Administrator. He remarked that, “This first-of-its-kind infrastructure grant program is both making communities safer and helping those rural and urban communities most in need, save money on their energy bills. We are helping communities that are still relying on pipes from the 1800s modernize their systems and reduce emissions of harmful pollution.”

The combined grant funds ($49 million) will repair, rehabilitate, or replace nearly 50 miles of pipe, resulting in a significant reduction in methane pollution emissions.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, which provided nearly $1 billion in funding over the course of five years to modernize community-owned natural gas distribution pipes and help to keep communities across the country safe from dangers associated with pipeline leaks. This current grant funding is part of $392 million in grants to support 130 projects aimed at fixing aging natural gas pipelines, helping reduce air pollution and reducing costs for ratepayers in 26 states.

More information about the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities’ gas division can be found here: https://www.rva.gov/public-utilities/news/richmond-gas-utility-overview.

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*** NEW UPDATE ***

Lane Closures – 6800 - 7100 blocks of Forest Hill Avenue

WHO:  City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (https://twitter.com/DPUStreetNews) 
 
WHAT:  Travel lanes in the 6800 – 7100 blocks of Forest Hill Avenue are impacted
 
WHEN:  Additional traffic impacts begin Friday, May 17 

WHERE: 6800 - 7100 blocks of Forest Hill Avenue (between Joe Brooks Boulevard and Hathaway Road)

BACKGROUND:  The City of Richmond became aware of a collapsed sewer main in this section of Forest Hill Avenue in April 2024. Temporary measures were taken which included stabilizing the ground to prevent additional collapse as well the installation of a bypass system to ensure no impact to sewer services.

City and contracted planners and engineers have developed a plan of action to replace the failed pipe and assess other areas of concern. Permanent replacement work will begin on Monday, May 20. The Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) barriers and notices will be installed beginning Friday, May 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Work will require that the eastbound traffic lanes of Forest Hill Avenue be closed between Joe Brooks Boulevard and Hathaway Road. Both eastbound and westbound lanes of Forest Hill Avenue traffic will share use of westbound lanes for the duration of the project. Access to businesses on Forest Hill Avenue will remain open during construction.

The detour will remain in place permanently until project completion, with the entire project anticipated to be complete by December 2024. Work hours are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. During the work there will be large trucks and other construction equipment operating daily, which will result in an increased level of noise during working hours.

Motorists are reminded to pay attention to signage in the area, and to use caution while traveling through the work zone. Riders of GRTC buses are encouraged to check updated schedules (via ridegrtc.com or the GRTC mobile app) for changes to bus stops or schedules before travel.

Most sewers were installed in the early 1900’s and have deteriorated to the point that they have begun to leak, have failed (collapsed), or are at risk of failure. If not addressed, settling of road surfaces, back-ups, and other problems may occur.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while this critical infrastructure work continues. There is no impact to the water service in the area; your water supply remains safe for drinking and recreational activities.

Full project details can be found here: https://www.rva.gov/public-utilities/news/forest-hill-avenue-sanitary-sewer-replacement-project

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DPU is replacing deteriorated sewer mains and reinstating associated sewer service laterals along the 3200 block of North Avenue.

The Combined Sewer Overflow Project – CSO – 004 is the first of several projects designed to control the city’s sewer overflows.