A day after the gas restoration deadline, here's where things stand

LAWRENCE, Mass. — More than three months and two restoration deadlines have passed since the Merrimack Valley gas explosions and fires left many residents and businesses without gas service.

Columbia Gas originally set a Nov. 19 deadline to restore all service to customers, which was soon pushed to Dec. 16 with more work to be done.

A day after the deadline here's the latest numbers from Columbia Gas's website:

• 7,012 residential meters have been re-lit, out of about 7,123 total
• 675 business meters have been re-lit, out of about 685 total
• Columbia Gas says all the service lines are ready for gas service

The company added that there are less than 200 remaining customers who decided to do repairs themselves.

PREVIOUS: It's deadline day for Merrimack Valley gas restoration

Last week, Gov. Charlie Baker, along with Columbia Gas executives and town managers gathered in Lawrence to provide an update on the "substantial completion" of the restoration project.

On Friday, the last batch of trailers left Lawrence after serving more than 900 people at its peak. It served as a community for those who didn't want to leave but needed a place to have heat and hot water.

MORE: Costs adding up for Merrimack Valley residents following gas explosions

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera came up with the idea and spoke about the significance the trailers served.

"It was a sad day when we had to turn this into an RV park, but it was some solace that folks from Bailey Street and Abbott and Salem and Market – all these places that are around here, Springfield Street – could find a place to come that's really close to their home,” Rivera said.

Roughly 100 homes exploded or caught fire after an overpressurization of the gas line. Most of those homes have not been rebuilt. And an 18-year-old, Leonel Rondon, was killed while sitting in a car at a friend's house from debris.

Multiple investigations into the incident and gas pipeline safety are ongoing.

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