Repair work on exposed SLO County gas line is wrapping up. Here’s when

A natural gas pipeline repair project that’s tied up prime oceanfront territory in San Luis Obispo County for about two months should wrap up by the end of this week, according to SoCalGas.

That would beat the utility company’s estimate for completion by at least a couple of weeks.

“Permanent repairs on the exposed pipeline were completed last week,” SoCalGas spokesperson Dan Guthrie replied via email Tuesday. “Final paving is scheduled to take place by the end of this week.

The stretch of gas line was exposed in March during heavy winter rainfall fueled by atmospheric river storms that produced flows from Whale Rock Reservoir near Cayucos.

When repair work began in mid-March, SoCalGas emergency crews filled oceanfront parking areas at Studio Drive and 24^th Street in Cayucos.

Operations then expanded to the Caltrans parking area near Villa Creek off Highway 1 and along a stretch of Estero Bluffs State Park, both north of Cayucos.

During the repair project, emergency bracing supported the pipeline and temporary facilities provided service to areas served by the pipeline, including Cayucos, Cambria and San Simeon.

Last week, a large contingent of tankers, trucks and other SoCalGas equipment was seen leaving the pullout that’s wedged between the highway, a strip of Estero Bluffs State Park and the Pacific Ocean.

Guthrie estimates that the parking areas will reopen and access to the pullout will be restored by the end of the week.

Kathe Tanner

The Tribune

805-781-7904 (voicemails only)

Kathe Tanner has been writing about the people and places of SLO County’s North Coast since 1981, first as a columnist and then also as a reporter. Her career has included stints as a bakery owner, public relations director, radio host, trail guide and jewelry designer. She has been a resident of Cambria for more than four decades, and if it’s happening in town, Kathe knows about it.