Gas line work on Perryville Road nears completion

The work on gas lines along Perryville Road that has slowed traffic over the last two months should be finished this week, officials say.

A subcontractor through Ameren UE dug up and replaced old, cast iron gas pipes along that road as part of the company's overall pipe replacement program, said Mike Cleary, director of corporate communications with Ameren.

Workers replaced 4-inch, cast-iron mains with 6-inch polyvinyl pipes, which are more durable, Cleary said.

"We don't wait for things to wear out, we have an on-going system for replacement," said Cleary. "This is more just to modernize our system."

Cleary said Ameren expects to have all older pipes in Cape Girardeau replaced with the polyvinyl by 2007.