Pipeline Will Cut Through 3 Downingtown Schools After School Board And Company Reach Agreement
By Pat Loeb
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Columbia Gas has won an easement to put a pipeline through the property of three Downingtown public schools and they'll pay the district more than $500,000 for the right to dig.
Columbia Gas plans to put nine-and-a-half miles of pipeline through Chester County and nearly a mile of it cuts through Downingtown Middle School, Shamona Creek Elementary and Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center.
School director Carl Croft says the company's original proposal was unacceptable.
"They were actually going to shut our schools down for six to eight weeks while they put the pipeline in."
Croft says the board didn't oppose the pipeline, but had to make sure it didn't interfere with students' education and safety.
"Having a pipeline with massive equipment coming through your property makes that difficult."
Croft says the company will put fences around the work area and have a safety watchperson while school is in session. He says most of the work will be done during the summer and the company will restore athletic fields in time for fall sports.
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