If you’ve driven by the gas pipeline work currently underway in front of IH Clubhouse on Canada Rd you might have wondered if Lakeland was building a flyover for the New Canada Road project that recently began. Over the last week metal walls have been erected that stretch nearly 30 feet into the air around the project to lay new gas pipelines. The new gas pipelines have to be completed before construction on the road can begin. More about that story can be read here.
No, the walls have nothing to do with road construction says Lakeland City engineer Emily Harrell. According to Ms. Harrell, it’s simply a temporary safety precaution. “It’s a safety measure in case there was a gas explosion while the (gas pipeline) work was being conducted. It would contain the damage to within the walls,” she said.
Ms. Harrell said the odds of an explosion are very rare but it’s better to be safe than sorry. “This is unlikely, but when working on high pressure gas lines safety is a major concern.”
According to The City of Lakeland website, the New Canada Road will be a four-lane divided roadway featuring medians, a 10ft bike, and pedestrian trails on both sides of the roadway. It will stretch approximately 2.3 miles in length running north and south thru the heart of Lakeland.
The cost of the project is expected to exceed $25,000,000. Funds to complete construction will be split between local and federal sources. The project is expected to take several years to complete.
