BARTOW, Fla. — A number of Polk County roads will be closed Monday morning for a check of nearly 16 miles of a natural gas pipeline.
The Florida Gas Transmission Company will test the pipeline from State Road 33 (Commonwealth Avenue N) in Polk City to County Road 35A (Kathleen Road) In Kathleen along County Road 582 (Old Polk City Road), N. Socrum Loop Road, Marcum Road and U.S. Highway 98.
During testing, the following road closures will occur:
- Rollinglen Loop W
- Along two southbound lanes on U.S. Highway 98 from Princeton Street to Marcum Road
- Marcum Road from U.S. Highway 98 to Walt Loop Road
- Old Polk City Road from Walt Loop Road to East of Tomkow Road
- State Road 33 (Commonwealth Avenue N) from Voyles Loop S to Voyles Loop N.
First-responders will be the only ones provided access from midnight to 4 a.m.
If the test does not pass, a second night of testing will be necessary.
This federally mandated testing is a standard industry best-practice using pressurized water to confirm the safety and reliability of the system. The natural gas will be removed from the pipeline, with service maintained on another system; and the integrity of the pipeline will be tested under pressure for a fixed period of time.
Additional details can be found online at fgthydrotest.com/home/central-florida/polk/ or by contacting Bill Skelton with the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division at 863-535-2200.