Preston residents breathe a sigh of relief as gas line starts to be re-buried

PRESTON – Better late than never, Preston residents said that earlier this week work crews finally began re-burying an exposed underground propane pipeline – almost relieving a situation that has left town officials and citizens fearful of a possible explosion since June.

“(Tuesday) they went right to work covering that gas line,” said Preston Highway Department Superintendent Charles Stein, who lives less than one tenth of a mile from the site. “They’ve been there every day, all day.”

However, officials with the Town of Preston Fire Department confirmed that just before efforts were underway to cover the 40-foot exposure on the Fly Meadow Creek near county Route 4, a much smaller, but similar exposure on the same pipeline was discovered over a stream located between county Route 18 and Griffin Road.

“It’s located right underneath a high voltage transmission line,” said town Safety Officer Chris Lavancha. “That’s what makes me nervous.”

The newly-discovered pipe is roughly above ground for five to six feet, and like the original exposure, Lavancha and others fear that moving debris or fallen trees moving down the creek bed could rupture the pipe, causing a leak and possible explosion.