Townhouse construction causes gas main leak

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Townhouse construction causes gas main leak
Construction on the College Park townhouses led to a gas main leak at College and West streets on Monday afternoon. (Breana Noble | Collegian)

Commuters who take West or College street home may have to take a detour Monday afternoon.

Construction on the College Park townhouses at West and College hit a two-inch natural gas main line Monday afternoon, causing the fire department to close down the intersection, according to local officials. Michigan Gas Utilities workers are on scene, replacing the pipe’s steel casting with a plastic one since learning about the leak at 1:30 p.m.

“It’s unfortunately common,” Deputy Chief Mark Hawkins told The Collegian on site. “It’s common with new construction and old pipes. It happens.”

Michigan Gas Utilities spokesman Matt Cullen said the repairs are expected to continue throughout the night.

The city dispatched the fire department at 2:28 p.m. as a precautionary measure and to direct traffic from campus to go east of West Street.

The break is not affecting any nearby buildings or homes. Those near the intersection, however, may hear the gas leak, which sounds like a jet flying overhead.

“Those nearby may hear a hissing sound,” Cullen said. “The leak is blowing gas up into the air at this point, and it may cause a rotten egg smell, but we do have crews on scene.”