Residents of Wheatley are hopeful that they may be close to getting rid of an eye sore.
Over the weekend, crews excavating the site where the 2021 explosion happened found an undocumented well.
There's belief it may have played a part in releasing the natural gas that contained hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which caused the blast, though only small levels of methane have been detected, meaning there's currently no risk to public safety.
"If we were to ever discover a source it would start like this, so the team is hopeful that's the case," said Ryan Brown, Director of Public Works for Chatham-Kent.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent held a public meeting on Tuesday where they discussed what they knew with residents and what they could expect moving forward.
A drill rig is currently being mobilized so crews can investigate the well and determine whether or not it's safe and can be properly abandoned.
Work is expected to start on Saturday and could last until October 18, 2024.
If at any moment crews would need to flare any gas that has started to leak, a section of Erie Street North between Talbot Road East and Elm Street would be temporarily closed.
The drill rig will also be operational 24/7 meaning people living and working in the area will have to deal with constant noise.
Barb Carson, one of roughly 50 Wheatley and area residents who took part in the public meeting, knows the next couple of weeks will be excruciating but necessary.
"It's just a means to an end and we're just gonna have to deal with it," he said.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has offered to help fund alternate living accommodations for people within 100 metres of the site.
Once this work is done, crews will excavate the remaining 20 per cent of the site to determine if there are any more undocumented wells.
There's optimism that plans can soon be made to properly revitalize the area. Jean-Marc Beneteau, who lives just outside of Wheatley, is excited to see what the future of the site and the rest of downtown will be.
"It doesn't matter too much, but maybe get a business park or just more business growth around the area," Beneteau shared.
There was also some talk at the meeting about turning the site into a green space.