PLASTIC PIPE INSERTION.

In the metropolitan Kansas City area, the period between the late 1800s and the 1940s might well be known as the 'Cast Iron Age. ' During that period, a major network of cast-iron distribution mains was built that became a major transportation system for natural gas, one of the city's primary energy sources. KPL Gas Service began its search for an abandoned cast-iron line in order to avoid the expense of replacing a gas line attached to the Grand Avenue Bridge, which was being rebuilt and upgraded. The discovery of the abandoned line on 20th Street turned out to be the key to greatly reducing construction costs for the entire project. KPL was among the first utilities to use polyethylene gas pipes for insert renewals in old cast-iron pipes. However, prior to 1987 the utility's largest insertions were 8-in. PE pipes into 20-in. cast-iron mains. Lower construction costs were the bottom line because with insert renewal there is no need to cut up the streets, a major expense in any urban pipeline work. There are other significant costs savings as well because the insert renewal construction process is faster than other techniques.