We Energies replacing a portion of gas mains in Whitefish Bay

Whitefish Bay - We Energies plans to install new gas mains under sidewalks in three areas of the village beginning as early as March 15, weather permitting.

We Energies Project Manager Erich Wuestenhagen told the Village Board on Monday night that the replacement is part of a five-year program in southeastern Wisconsin. The utility will spend $10 million to upgrade its facilities in the village, he said.

Phase one of the replacement is north of Silver Spring Drive, phase two from Silver Spring to Henry Clay Street and phase three from Henry Clay to Hampton Avenue.

Wuestenhagen said most of the existing mains are located in the middle of the road with service laterals extending from the main to both sides of the street. Those mains will be abandoned with new mains being installed under sidewalks on both sides of the roads.

Property owners will receive letters describing the project prior to its start, he said.

The program begins with the installation of the new main, followed by the connection to homes and businesses.

In buildings where the gas meter is located inside, it will be moved outside as part of the connection process, he said.

We Energies will relight pilot lights and conduct safety inspections after each installation.

The final step will be landscape restoration.

Because the program will conflict with the village's sidewalk program, the Village Board decided to put off slab replacements for 2012, instead doing its trip-cutting program only, to level bumped up areas in the sidewalks.

Not all of the village will be getting the new mains.

"We did a piece of Whitefish Bay in 2008 when we did Shorewood," Wuestenhagen said.

By placing the mains under sidewalks, the utility will be out of the way when the village does future sanitary and stormwater work as well as water main replacements and street rehabilitation.

The work is expected to be completed sometime in August.