LAWRENCE, Mass. — It has been nearly a month since the Merrimack Valley gas explosions and thousands of families remain without heat or hot water.
A massive utility project is supposed to restore service in a matter of weeks, but some Lawrence residents are skeptical the job will get done in time.
"You have to heat the water every day," Alberto Melendes said of his life now. "It takes a lot of time."
Since mid-September, many Lawrence residents have been waiting for the gas to come back on. And it's happening -- slowly.
In many places, especially on a gray Autumn day, they're not feeling it.
"We have kids living in the apartment and they're getting sick because it's getting colder out," Peter Finch said.
To date, Columbia Gas has replaced 18 miles of pipeline.
"We've got over 3,000 people who are currently working either replacing the gas lines, or making assessments in peoples homes or replacing their appliances," Columbia Gas spokesperson Scott Ferson told Boston 25 News.
But there are thirty more miles to go.
Before noon, we found crews tearing up Andover and Boxford streets. Not even two hours later, they had the gas lines in. They're tamping down the sand and the next step would be to re-asphalt the street.
But when will the gas come on?
"They say that it's going to be until November, but I don't really know" Petter Finch said.
Columbia Gas and local officials do know colder weather is coming, so housing options are available. Those include an urban camping experience and trailers, which supposedly sleep up to eight.
But after nearly a month of deprivation, Melendes takes the trailers as a portent of a broken promise.
"For Nov. 19, I don't think they're going to finish it all," he said.
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MORE: Columbia Gas sent the following stats to Boston 25 News:
Works crews have now:
- Replaced more than 18 miles of pipe to-date
- Replaced 917 service lines, of which 652 are gas-ready
- Completed 149 residential assessments yesterday; 3,513 complete assessments to-date
- Made 73 residential units House Ready to-date; 340 started and still in progress
Meeting this afternoon to finalize communication plan
Reminder: Beginning Tuesday 10/9 daily briefing calls will be held at 4pm
Labor resources Monday:
PLUMBERS 572
GAS FITTERS 150
ELECTRICIANS 430
LOCAL INSPECTORS 0
CLAIMS CENTERS
For the week of Oct. 8:
- Andover : T-F 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 20 Main Street. Closed Columbus Day.
- Lawrence: M-F 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 439 South Union Street (1 Heritage Place)
- North Andover: T-F 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 115 Main Street. Closed Columbus Day.