News

Plaza evacuated last night after gas leak

By Lise Fisher
Sun staff writer

Published: Friday, May 16, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 11:30 p.m.

Traffic was closed on SW 34th Street for several hours late Thursday after a construction crew accidentally struck a natural gas line.

Jason Henry/Special to The Sun

Gainesville Police re-direct traffic on the corner of SW Williston Road and 34th Street due to a natural gas pipe leak. The 6-inch GRU natural gas line was punctured during drilling construction for a new McDonalds around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, causing Gainesville Police to shutdown SW 34th Street until they the line was secured, according to Gainesville Fire Department District Chief Jeff Lane.

The accident forced the evacuation of a shopping plaza at the intersection of 34th Street and Williston Road.

Police closed northbound and southbound traffic on 34th Street from Williston Road to SW 47th Avenue shortly before 7:30 p.m. due to danger posed by the damaged line.

Crews working on a new McDonald's restaurant at the intersection cut a 6-inch gas line, said Gainesville Regional Utilities spokesman Dan Jesse.

No customers were impacted by the line damage.

But the repairs kept the roadway shut down, with officers on the scene rerouting traffic.

Details about why the line was accidentally damaged were not available late Thursday.

GRU reminds people and businesses to have utility lines marked before digging begins on property.

Call 811 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and officials will come out within 48 hours to mark the location of the lines.

Lise Fisher can be reached at 352-374-5092 or fisherl@gvillesun.com.