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Natural Gas Main Replacement

As part of our Natural Gas Main Replacement program, National Grid crews or contractors will be upgrading existing natural gas infrastructure across several Massachusetts communities. 

During this process, we will be digging trenches, mainly on the road surfaces, to install the new pipes block by block. At the end of each day, we will ensure that the streets are patched up to keep them passable.  

  

What to Expect: Gas Main Replacement

If underground gas work is being done in your area, our crews and contractors will replace the old gas pipes and service lines with strong, durable plastic and/or coated steel piping.

You will be notified by mail and/or door hangers when we are doing work on the gas network in your area. These upgrades will help us continue to provide safe and reliable natural gas service.

Work will typically take place Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., conditions permitting. Work may also be completed on weekends or after hours. Our crews may have to dig on your property to upgrade your gas service line.

During typical natural gas main replacement and service construction, it can include:

  • Marking out underground utilities within the project scope area (e.g., water, sewer, gas, electric, etc.)
  • Excavation of the street and laying of a new gas main.
  • Relaying National Grid customers’ individual gas services and connecting that service to the new main
  • Meters will need to be relocated to the outside of the home or business if currently inside. Exceptions may apply in dense urban areas where meter relocation is not possible. We’ll work with you to figure out what works for your property.
  • Temporary or permanent restoration of disturbed by our work, in accordance with applicable municipal and permit requirements.
  • Mains and services can be worked.

Once the work is completed and the gas mains are upgraded, crews will begin coordinating service line work with affected customers. We will contact you to arrange access to complete the work. National Grid may need to access homes or businesses to connect the service line work. Service line work typically takes one business day. During this time, you may experience a temporary interruption of gas service. Once the service line work is complete, a National Grid technician will perform any necessary meter work and relight your gas appliances. Timing may change based on access issues, field conditions, and other factors.

Lastly, please note that after the work is completed, disturbed areas will be restored in accordance with local applicable municipal and permit requirements. Restoration may happen in stages, with temporary repairs completed first and permanent restoration completed later. For these large-scale gas projects, repairs typically take place after the overall project is completed. In Massachusetts, there is a required minimum 90-day settlement period or one winter season before any final and permanent restoration can begin. This allows the area time to properly settle before final repairs are made.

Final paving restoration work may be completed on weekends or after hours due to scheduling timeframes. All permanent restoration work is weather-dependent, so repairs to work done in the late fall and winter will typically be completed in early spring.

Learn more about our Paving process. 

 

FAQs

Gas Main Work Process

  • PHASE 1: includes mark-outs of utilities within the street and properties within the project scope. National Grid and/or our qualified contractor crew will review the existing meter location and, if the meter is currently located inside, propose a new outside meter location.
  • PHASE 2: National Grid and/or our qualified contractor crew will conduct the necessary work on the gas main within the street.
  • PHASE 3: Once the main work is complete, crews will begin coordinating the service line work. Affected residents and business owners will be contacted by the crew leader at least 24-48 hours in advance so that the work on their service line can be coordinated. This work typically takes one day to complete, and National Grid may need access to your home or business during construction. A National Grid technician will perform any necessary meter work and relight your gas appliances once the service line work is complete. Timing may change based on access issues, field conditions, and other factors. Every National Grid employee carries a photo ID card, and any contractor doing work for us is also required to carry ID.
  • PHASE 4: The crew will begin closing out the project. Restoration may happen in stages, with temporary repairs completed first and permanent restoration completed later in accordance with local requirements, regulations, and permits.

Note: If you are not a customer and do not have a natural gas service line, Phase 3 is for notification only.

Gas Safety

Please call 911 or 1-800-233-5325 immediately from a safe location outside your home or from a neighbor’s home.

Meters

If your meter is currently located inside, National Grid will make every effort to relocate your meter to the outside.  A representative from National Grid will assess the work that is needed at your location.

Moving the meter outside helps to improve safety and also allows easier access for National Grid to access the meter in the future.

If your meter is already outside, your service may still be interrupted for a brief period of time, and we may still need access to complete service line work and relight appliances.

Construction

You may ask to speak with the crew foreman, or you can call the National Grid representative's number provided on the project notification letter.

Restriction notifications will be posted throughout the designated work zone, and crews will notify residents if temporary parking restrictions will be required.

At times, there may be restricted access, but every effort will be made to allow residents access to their homes during construction. You may approach the crew foreman or flag person if you require additional information.

Construction schedules can change. Timing may change based on access issues, field conditions, and other factors. If there is a longer-term schedule change, National Grid will notify your local Department of Public Works and will also send additional communications.

Service Line Work

In many cases, yes. National Grid may need access to your home or business to complete service line work. Once the service line work is complete, a National Grid technician will perform any necessary meter work and relight your appliances. If access is needed, the crew leader will coordinate with you in advance.

Please speak with the crew foreman or follow the instructions in your project communication as soon as possible so that access arrangements can be discussed.

Please make sure we can access the area where the service line, meter, and gas appliances are located, and let the crew know ahead of time if there are any special access considerations, such as apartment entry, locked doors, or landlord/tenant coordination.

Service interruptions are temporary, and service line work typically takes one business day. Once the service line work is complete, a National Grid technician will perform any necessary meter work and relight your gas appliances. Timing may change based on access issues, field conditions, and other factors.

If your gas service is not restored within this timeframe, please call our gas emergency line at 1-800-233-5325, available 24/7.