Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC, which has proposed a 600-mile natural gas transmission pipeline, part of which runs through Suffolk, last week announced it has signed a construction contract with Spring Ridge Constructors LLC, a joint venture of leading natural gas pipeline construction companies.

Comprised of Price Gregory International Inc., a Quanta Services Inc. company; U.S. Pipeline Inc.; SMPC, LLC; and Rockford Corporation, a Primoris Services Corporation company, the joint venture will serve as the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s lead construction contractor.

Pending approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline would run from Harrison County, W.Va., southeast through Virginia with a lateral extension to Chesapeake, and then south through eastern North Carolina to Robeson County. If approved, construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2017.

SRC was selected as the most-qualified contractor for the project after an extensive, competitive bidding process conducted by Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The four companies account for a significant portion of the large-diameter natural gas pipeline construction spread capacity in the United States.

“We are excited to work with SRC, which has assembled four of the nation’s leading and most-qualified pipeline builders for this project,” said Diane Leopold, president of Dominion Energy. “These companies have extensive experience in building large-scale, complex projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, and their commitment to safe construction practices and best-in-class standards align with our expectations for the project.”

“The selection of our lead construction contractor is another significant milestone for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and represents one more step toward making this project a reality and securing the energy future of our region,” Leopold added.

“SRC is pleased to have been selected by ACP as the constructor of this vital project, which serves to strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure,” said Dan Plume, SRC project director.

In another significant milestone for the project, in early August the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a Notice of Schedule, which establishes the timeline for the remainder of the project’s federal environmental review process. Based on the schedule, ACP expects to receive a certificate in the late summer or fall of 2017, with construction beginning shortly thereafter.

ACP anticipates completing construction and bringing the pipeline into service in late 2019. ACP is working with its contractors to evaluate the possibility of bringing on more crews and working on more simultaneous spreads in order to complete construction sooner. This analysis is expected to be finalized over the next few months.