Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is performing safety upgrades to its gas pipeline network under the Stanford campus. The current work is part of a broader upgrade of gas pipeline 109, which became a source of concern after a similar pipeline ruptured and exploded in San Bruno in 2009.

The work is taking place along Alpine Road and is slated for completion in early 2015. After completion, a tenth of a mile of pipeline under the Stanford campus will have been replaced.

PG&E representative Monica Tell stated that the new pipeline will be more resistant to corrosion and earth movement.

“The work along Alpine Road is part of our ongoing work to strengthen our systems to ensure safe, reliable and affordable delivery of natural gas,” Tell said.

The current project is unrelated to recent gas leaks on the Stanford campus. According to the PG&E representative, the most recent gas leak was caused when a third-party contractor struck a gas line.

Contact Michael Gioia at mgioia2 ‘at’ stanford.edu.