Repairs to leaking cable in Strip District continuing, Duquesne Light says

Repairs to fix an underground cable that has been leaking dielectric fluid in Pittsburgh’s Strip District will continue Tuesday, according to a statement from Duquesne Light Co.

The outbound lanes of Liberty Avenue in the Strip between 26th and 28th streets will remain closed as work progresses. A reopening date has not yet been determined, the company said. One of the two inbound lanes is still open to outbound traffic.

Workers inspected the area and are freezing a second portion of the pipe within a block of the identified leak between 26th and 27th streets. The second freeze spot will not have any additional impact on traffic, the company said.

Work will take place over the next several days to ensure that the freeze process is successful, after which crews expect to completely seal the leak.

The company said in a statement that the leaking substance is a clear, mineral-like liquid with a glossy-like sheen that has a faint mineral oil smell. It is used to cool down and insulate underground cables. The non-flammable and non-combustible fluid is non-toxic to the public, but can impact aquatic life in large, concentrated quantities.

Crews learned of the leak April 29 and began working to locate the source. A company statement indicated that no power has been lost because of the incident and no one has been hurt. The transmission cable spans from Brunot Island to the Strip District.

Workers are using a vacuum truck to remove fluid as it leaks, the company said. Approximately 47,000 gallons have escaped to date. Fluid that makes it into nearby waterways is being collected by booms, temporary floating barriers that help contain leaks and spills.

Crews have put up six booms along the south bank of the Allegheny River in the Strip and six along the Ohio River near the Chateau neighborhood.