SALISBURY — As a part of ongoing work, Piedmont Natural Gas crews will perform routine infrastructure maintenance in the 6600 block of Statesville Boulevard, just east of Parks Road in Salisbury. Barring weather impacts, the work is expected to take place between Thursday and Monday.

The operations will include the use of a flare stack (a large vertical pipe), which could produce a loud noise and result in a tall flame being visible to nearby neighborhoods and businesses. People in the area also may notice a whistling sound or the smell of natural gas.

Flare stack operation is a controlled process that will be managed and monitored by Piedmont Natural Gas personnel in cooperation with local fire department resources. 

According to a release from a Duke Energy spokesperson, Zachary Vavricka, “These activities are key to continuing Piedmont’s safe, reliable natural gas service and meeting the increased demand for natural gas.”  

Vavrinka indicated in the release the Piedmont Natural Gas personnel and licensed contractors will be performing all infrastructure operations, as well as any necessary flaring operations. Local fire department resources also may be present.

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, distributes natural gas to more than 1.1 million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.