The electrical grid. Our sewage system. The underpinnings of an old neighborhood facing an ongoing population spike need care and maintenance — and, sometimes, a full replacement. A Puget Sound Energy project to replace major swaths of 1980s-era main gas pipes beneath the core of Capitol Hill is set to begin next week.

“In an ongoing effort to deliver safe and reliable energy to our Seattle-area customers, Puget Sound Energy’s natural gas system maintenance program will soon be underway in your neighborhood,” a bulletin on the project sent to customers reads. “The work requires PSE to replace the existing, underground natural gas main, installed in the early 1980’s, with corrosion-resistant plastic main. We are committed to completing the work with as little inconvenience to you as possible.”

The work is scheduled to be undertaken in four phases starting Monday, February 12th near Cal Anderson and stretching into July along Pike and across 10th and 11th Ave.

Work hours on the project will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM with “some weekend work.” Expect signs and traffic control flaggers to “guide pedestrians and vehicles safely through the work zone” and for parking to be “impacted.” Some customers may also experience “a short interruption of natural gas service during this time.”

“Additional communications will be sent during the project to keep everyone updated,” PSE notes.

You can learn more at pse.com.

UPDATE: Dave Meinert, part of the ownership behind the Big Mario’s and Lost Lake family of businesses, has taken to social media — and CHS comments — to raise concerns about the timing of the latter stages of the work. “No one from SDOT or PSE spoke to the local small businesses about this so they scheduled work on Pike during Pride & Block Party,” he writes. “They could have reversed the schedule and not had the potential negative impact. Wonder how those festivals are feeling right now.” This year, Seattle Pride’s parade falls on June 24th with the weeks leading up to the event typically very busy around E Pike for the annual Pride parties. Meanwhile, Capitol Hill Block Party 2018 runs July 20th through the 22nd.