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_TouchAmerica-CS 990902Latest gas line damage adds to towns headaches M� Lt" ' Leader Publication date - September 1, 1999 http:// www .lewisvilieleader.com/front/99 /0901 /index2.html )1� i Home I News I Community I Sports Classifieds Latest gas line damage adds to town's headaches • Flower Mound accuses contractors of negligence By JASON LAMERS Staff writer FLOWER MOUND -- A disturbance has emerged in this quiet community, upsetting town officials and inconveniencing residents. Leaving a trail of destruction along Farm -to- Market roads 2499 and 1171, sub - contractors installing communication lines have cut through two water lines, three gas lines and damaged some residential landscaping. Working for Dynamic Cable, the contractors have been installing fiber -optic cable for the Montana -based Touch America. Most recently, the contractors tore through a 6 -foot high- pressure gas line Friday at FM 2499 and Chaparral Lane. Gas was released for more than three hours while Texas Utilities workers repaired the line. "You're just holding your breath and waiting for the next disaster to strike," said Eric Lochelder, deputy town manager. "It's really become problematic because water in the middle of the summer is tricky enough anyways in Texas -- as hot as it is. So we can't afford major town outages." The town has not tabulated the total cost of the repairs, but Lochelder said the town could seek money from the contractors to pay for the repair costs. "We can file claims, but I don't know to what extent we'll be successful," he said. "I hope that we intend to pursue the cost for the 16 -inch line because that one was clearly marked." The first incident occurred in early June on FM 1171 just east of the Roanoke Hill subdivision. The working crew sliced through 1,100 feet of a 4 -inch water line using a vertical plow, according to town officials. The cut left Roanoke Hills without water for nearly seven hours. Town utility crews worked throughout the night, replacing the line in 24 hours. 1 of 3 9/2/99 11:45 AM Lc" qt gas lme damage adds to town's headaches http:// www .lewisvilleleader.com /front/99 /0901 /index2.htm1 ef The contractors also struck two 6 -inch gas lines, including one at the intersection of FM 2499 and FM 1171 and one at FM 2499 near Aberdeen Road. No fires broke out, but traffic had to be diverted and more than 40 people were evacuated. On July 6, the workmen also managed to hit a 16 -inch water line at the intersection of FM 2499 and Aberdeen Road. An undetermined amount of water was lost as it flowed for more than four hours, causing flooding in nearby neighborhoods. The contractors also were apparently responsible for tearing through a 48 -inch water supply line directly under State Highway 114, causing portions of the highway to be closed. "They caused a very intense emergency situation here for two days," said Jack Angel, director of public works for the City of Irving. Some local residents complained the contractors also are responsible for damages to their homes. Greg Huckaby, spokesman for TXU, said the company keeps records on gas -line breaks and indicated the company plans to bill the contractors. "We bill the contractors so our customers don't have to bear the costs of these types of things," he said. E.T. Crawford, job inspector for Dynamic Cable, said if the company is at fault, they will pay for the damages. "Most of the stuff that was hit were things that were either marked incorrect or just weren't marked at all," he said. "It's just dangerous. It upsets us because we're taking a chance at maybe getting someone hurt on the job site." Mayor Lori DeLuca said officials are inquiring to see how the town can seek damages from the contractors and bill them for the man hours involved in repairs. "These people have caused a major disruption within our town organization as a whole and also among our residents," she said. But Bob Milton, director of public works, said it will be difficult for town officials to determine who is responsible for the damage because there so many different sub - contractors working at once. 2 of 3 9/2/99 11:45 AM Latest gas line damage adds to town's headaches http:// www .lewisvilleleader.com/front/99 /0901 /index2. html "I asked for a schedule and a listing of their contractors so we could stay on top of what is happening, but the company couldn't even provide a list of who's working and when they were going to work," he said. "Some of the entities have been very cooperative and some of them aren't. It's just very difficult to keep a handle on it." Town officials said 95 percent of the town's utility failures are the result of gas, water or power lines being struck by contractors. Milton said because Touch America's contractors are running completely through the middle of Flower Mound, it is almost impossible not to hit something. "We have so many different people working in this town, there's probably not a day that goes by where something is not hit," he said. "There's just so much growth, so much development, this is just going to happen with this much activity and this many people working." But the surge in utility failures, he said, has taxed city staff. "The town only has two water repair crews and one sewer repair crew, so we've been pretty well exhausted," Milton said. "It's been a nightmare. We haven't stopped running since they came to town." Contact staff writer Jason Lamers at 972 - 436 -3566, Ext. 122, or by e -mail at Newsleadgaol com. ©1999 Lewisville Leader 3 of 3 9/2/99 11:45 AM