water line above gas meter?

why not?

In the picture below, the blue-handled valve is on a water line going to an outdoor faucet. Flow has become weak on this line and I want to replace that section of steel pipe and put in 3/4" copper pipe (rather than 1/2") and use a dielectric union.

My question is, why did whoever put this in originally jog around the gas pipe like that? Is there a reason NOT to take a short-cut to the faucet (proposed route marked with a red line)? The water pipe will then be going above the gas meter---not that the current piping is all that far from the meter.

Many thanks,

Thanks for the quick reply! So I assume the problem is with having open flame near the meter? I can do it in such a way that I am never soldering near the meter (the faucet itself will screw on, and I'll solder the adapter to a piece of copper pipe beforehand).

I will have to make one final connection with the torch close to the gas pipe although not close to the meter (roughly above the photographer's head). Any problem soldering about 5" away from a gas pipe? I'll shut off the gas upstream of the gas meter and reduce the pressure in the pipe by running the gas cooktop for a few seconds.

Thanks again!