While narrowing down the source of the nitrogen identified in the sewer cavity where Jabin Lakes, a 31-year-old city worker, was killed while inspecting the manhole, crews also found decreased oxygen levels in a nearby manhole off the street near Air Products.
According to plans for the sewer system, which Landen said was constructed in the 1950s, the AT&T conduit and additional manhole should not be directly connected. He said these plans are sometimes not up to date. The city is still ventilating the area to prevent nitrogen from building up.
“According to all the experts I talked to, it would be highly unlikely for the nitrogen to travel long distances underground, so we are considering where it traveled through the conduit or sewer,” Landen said.
Repairs to two nitrogen lines from Air Products that run to AK Steel are ongoing. Leaks have been found in these lines, but Landen said until repairs are made, the city cannot verify with certainty this is the only source of the gas found in the manhole where Lakes died and three firefighters were injured.
“We have completed the excavation of the nitrogen piping within our plant and we have completed a majority of the repair work. We continue to coordinate our work with the city of Middletown and AK Steel and hope to finish within several days,” Air Products officials said in a written statement Monday, May 24.
Landen said Yankee Road remains closed to traffic from Lafayette to Pershing avenues until the repairs are completed.
“We’re still waiting and we’re trying and encouraging because we want the road back open,” he said.
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