A natural gas leak led to a shelter-in-place advisory and the closure of a busy northwest Atlanta road for about five hours Thursday.
An Atlanta Fire Rescue spokesperson said crews responded at about 11:20 a.m. to 1800 Howell Mill Road near I-75, where they recommended people stay inside as Atlanta Gas Light worked to repair the 6-inch high-pressure leak.
The issue closed the southbound exit to Howell Mill, which was shut down between the interstate and Defoor Avenue. The strong odor could also be smelled nearby on Northside Drive.
An Atlanta Gas Light official said a contractor ruptured the line and that crews worked on site to repair the damage. Atlanta fire spokesperson Anaré Holmes confirmed that a fiber internet cable was being installed Thursday morning.
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Atlanta Gas Light crews are currently on-site, working to safely repair the damage. The gas is turned off and our crews have safely secured the area,” spokesperson DeAllous Smith said in a statement Thursday evening.
The area is just north of a Wendy’s restaurant and Einstein Bros Bagels store. It’s also a short distance from The District at Howell Mill shopping mall, which is home to an Office Depot, T.J. Maxx, PetSmart and a few restaurants.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Several establishments remained open despite the issues, including a Verizon store, Starbucks and a doctors office in the Piedmont West building that said it was still seeing patients.
The shelter-in-place advisory was lifted by 4:15 p.m. and the road was reopened.
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