DECATUR, Ill. (March 3, 2026) – Ameren Illinois customers traveling on the southeast side of Decatur will see energy infrastructure improvements underway beginning the week of March 3. Crews will replace natural gas steel pipeline and upgrade it to new, corrosion-resistant polyethylene material.
Crews from Miller Pipeline are working on behalf of Ameren Illinois to upgrade nearly 2.4 miles of pipeline and upgrade the service pipelines for approximately 170 customers. The route extends from the intersection of South 32nd Street and East Fulton Avenue to the intersection of South 36th Street and East Fulton Avenue and includes the neighborhood north to East Oakwood Avenue. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by early June.
In mid-April, crews will begin work on the northeast side of town to upgrade nearly 3.5 miles of pipeline and upgrade the service pipelines for approximately 270 customers. The route extends from the intersection of North 27th Street and East Division Street to the intersection of East Division Street and North 35th Street and the neighborhood north to East Faries Parkway. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by late September.
Ameren Illinois has coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the City of Decatur to obtain the necessary permits for infrastructure work in the area. Ameren engineers said there may be temporary lane closures at times, but there shouldn't be any road closures on this project.
“This upgrade reinforces our commitment to the safe, reliable and affordable delivery of natural gas for our customers,” said Colby Sawin, director of North Region Gas Operations for Ameren Illinois. “While many customers may think of Ameren Illinois primarily as an electric utility, we also operate a robust natural gas system in Macon County. Our local, full‑time natural gas professionals work around the clock to maintain the system, respond to gas leaks at no charge, conduct safety inspections, install services and support construction projects."
Safe Digging
As required by law, Ameren Illinois will contact JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators at 811 prior to starting work to ensure safe digging practices. Customers may notice paint marks and colored utility flags near work zones indicating the location of underground facilities.
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois. Our service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles and our mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us at @AmerenIllinois or Facebook.com/AmerenIllinois.