[KHTS] – The Southern California Gas Co.’s project to replace a segment of one of its natural gas transmission pipelines along Sierra Highway and Foothill Boulevard in Sylmar has been extended and it may be affecting commuters traveling to and from the Santa Clarita Valley.

The work being performed is part of SoCalGas’ Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan, which was filed to comply with the California Public Utilities Commission’s directives to enhance public and pipeline safety.

For safety reasons, Foothill Boulevard will be closed from Sierra Highway to Balboa Boulevard for the duration of this project as construction crew members work along the street. Foothill Boulevard will be reopened each afternoon after work hours.

The project started in Sylmar on Monday, Aug. 3, 2015 and was estimated to be completed in approximately six weeks.

Environmental factors, such as unknown substructures impeding construction, slowed SoCalGas crews down, said Sergio Jimenez with SoCalGas.

SoCalGas expects the construction to be completed in another two to three weeks, said Jimenez. There is no specific date the project is estimated to be completed because of environmental factors and weather.

SoCalGas crews will work from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

When Foothill Boulevard is closed, motorists will be rerouted to get to Santa Clarita and other points north. Northbound traffic on Foothill Boulevard will be detoured west onto Balboa, then north onto San Fernando Road until it connects with Sierra Highway. We ask motorists to please observe all traffic control signs.

To mitigate the impacts of the closure, SoCalGas has conducted and will continue to do extensive outreach with the community, including meeting with Council members Englander’s and Fuentes’ staffs. Both offices were supportive of our work effort to enhance public safety. SoCalGas has also reached out to the Sylmar Neighborhood Council, local residents and businesses regarding work in the area and will provide additional notice before work starts.

Flagmen and very visible traffic control signage will be on hand to assist in mitigating traffic congestion. We ask motorists to please drive carefully past the work sites and observe all traffic control signs. People passing by the work sites may see an excavated section of pipeline with construction equipment and traffic control signage as well as trucks and other vehicles.

The community may also hear some work-related noise and notice an occasional natural gas odor.

SoCalGas Continues to Enhance Pipeline Safety in Sylmar “Safety is, and has always been the most important part of our work. Our Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan will continue to improve our system and further protect our customers and employees,” said Rick Phillips, senior director of SoCalGas’ Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan.

We strive to provide continuous natural gas service for our customers while the pipeline safety work is being performed. Additionally, we will be notifying nearby residents and businesses of the construction work via a public outreach campaign to raise awareness in the community.

Any customers who will experience a temporary natural gas service interruption will be notified by SoCalGas directly. If customers have any questions or concerns about the testing, please call SoCalGas’ Customer Contact Center at 800-427-2200 or 800-342-4545 in Spanish.