West Escambia Utilities is expanding its gas service to the Poarch area.

The new gas line expansion will be comprised of 3.5 miles of 6-inch line and 1.4 miles of 4-inch line. The line, which is being installed by Boan Construction Co., isn’t close to existing gas lines, WEU Manager Kenny Smith said.

“We are having to put in a new gas tap off of the line we purchased from,” Smith said. “They have a line coming through town, and we have a tap off of it that provides gas to the town.”

Smith said the new line would run along Ewing Drive, Brightland Road, Green Road and Paredes Way. The line that WEU purchased a tap from came off of an existing line that run across Brightland.

Smith said the tap will run north on Brightland to Ewing, then it will head east on Green Road, and then north to the Poarch Creek Indians’ new boys and girls club.

Smith said the line will then run off of Jack Springs Rd., and from Green Road to Paredes Way, adding that a regulator station will be installed to help drop the pressure.

“The main objective right now is to supply gas for the child youth development center,” he said.

Smith said the line expansion project, which costs approximately $1.5 million, has already begun. The project is slated to take 60 days to complete.

Smith said the construction will mostly be on the right of way of the roads, and those with questions can call WEU at 251-368-2207. Some of the pipe laying requires construction crews to boar under driveways. He added that gas service will not be effected for those living within the city limits.

Smith said WEU is doing what it can to keep from messing up residents’ yards during the project.

Once the pipe is inserted, X-Rays will be performed to check for leaks.

Smith said those with questions can call WEU, and to not panic when they see utility trucks.