New multi-billion dollar natural gas pipeline proposed in county

By Eddie West Staff Writer

(The following story pertains to a new proposed natural gas pipeline project which is not to be confused with the Enbridge natural gas pipeline project which is now under construction in the northern section of Smith County. Last week, a separate company, Kinder Morgan, announced a separate natural gas pipeline project which will be constructed in the western portion of the county.)

A Houston, Texas based company is proposing to construct a multi-billion dollar natural gas pipeline  which will cross north to south through the western portion of the county.

The proposed natural gas pipeline project is named Southeast Connector Project and would be operated by Kinder Morgan.

As initially proposed by Kinder Morgan, the project will enter Smith County at the Trousdale County line on the west side of the Dixon Springs community. From the Dixon Springs community, the proposed pipeline will travel southward south of the Riddleton community into the Beasleys Bend community before crossing underneath the Cumberland River. The path of the proposed pipeline will continue south passing between the Rock City and Pope’s Hill communities. Eventually, the pipeline’s pathway crosses underneath Interstate 40 between the Grant and New Middleton communities. Once passing under the interstate, the pipeline’s path continues southward between Alexandria Highway and the Smith/Wilson county line. The proposed pipeline would pass continue through the Brush Creek community and into DeKalb County.

This is the general route as provided by a map submitted by Kinder Morgan.

While the map provides state highways (Highway 25/Dixon Springs, Highway Highway 70/Lebanon Highway, Highway 141/Grant Highway, Highway 53/Alexander Highway) and federal roads (Interstate 40), county roads are not marked on the map which would provide more specific details or more exact areas of the proposed pipeline’s pathway.

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