Thanks to a $9.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration work can begin replacing the 17.75 miles of cast iron gas lines remaining in the Elmore County portion of Tallassee. The city contains a high percentage of lines still using cast iron. It has been working to replace them, but funding made it difficult.
Mayor Sarah Hill said the issue came to prominence in May 2021 as Tallassee High School was set to host senior awards day in the school’s gymnasium.
“The City of Tallassee narrowly avoided a catastrophe,” Hill said. “Seniors were there to receive scholarships and to be recognized for their hard work for 12 years.”
A nearby gas leak threatened the ceremony.
Engineering work has already started on the project. The grant allows funds from a utility bond issue to be used on other utilities.
Hill said the city intends to apply for the grant again to hopefully replace cast iron gas lines in East Tallassee.
