Natural gas pipe is being laid on Stacey Street in the next phase of a buildout bringing more of the fuel to city residents. Work began Monday.

Bath Iron Works entered into a deal in February 2011 with Brunswickbased Maine Natural Gas to bring a pipeline to Bath. The goal was to lower costs and carbon emissions at the shipyard, but it had the additional benefit of bringing gas — eventually — to downtown businesses and residents.

BIW was hooked up by October 2011. The second phase of the extension, which will affect the downtown area, is just beginning.

The line, which connects to the BIW pipeline at Washington and Stacey streets, will turn north on Middle Street and cross underneath Leeman Highway, then turn east toward downtown under Centre Street.

At Water Street, the pipeline will go both directions, toward Elm in the north, and toward Vine in the south.

At Vine, the pipeline will turn east, then turn north down Commercial Street, going all the way up to Linden. At Elm, the pipeline will turn east to Front, and north to Linden.

Most of this work is scheduled to be done between Labor Day and Sept. 27.

Peter Bottomley of Maine Natural Gas said another 2,400 feet of pipeline — almost a half-mile — will be laid along Washington Street in the north end in 2014. This would take the natural gas pipeline to just beyond North Street.

City Planner Andrew Deci said a series of planned improvements to city sidewalks will occur while the pipe is being laid so the city comes compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Street crossings to be affected by that work include Front and Elm streets, Front and Summer streets, Front and Centre streets and Front and Broad streets.

ghamilton@timesrecord.com