ATLANTA — A major gas leak near the Georgia Capitol disrupted Downtown Atlanta Wednesday morning, forcing evacuations and street closures. While buildings have since been cleared to reopen, the repair work continued into Thursday morning.
Emergency crews, including Atlanta Fire Rescue and Atlanta Gas Light, were called to the area around 9 a.m. on Wednesday after a construction crew hit a gas line. According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, the ruptured line was “large” and immediately noticeable, with a strong gas odor.
Officials said around 4 p.m. on Wednesday that they'd turned the gas off, but road closures are still active Thursday morning. Only one lane is open in both directions as crews continue repairs.
By mid-morning on Wednesday, officials had evacuated the Capitol, including Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, who were seen leaving the building. Authorities monitored the situation closely, and Atlanta Gas Light said nearby businesses had been evacuated.
Residents and workers at the time were advised to avoid the area, particularly those with respiratory conditions. Atlanta Fire Rescue recommended that individuals with breathing issues wear an N95 mask or have inhalers on hand as a precaution.
"It doesn't appear that it will shift and move, but we don't have control of the weather, and that's why we're taking precautions to recommend that people really stay inside and avoid the area," an official with AFR said earlier in the day.
MARTA also closed its Georgia State station, suspending rail service. At the time, local bus routes were rerouted to King Memorial, and a bus bridge was provided between Five Points and King Memorial.
A Georgia Board of Education meeting was also canceled due to the gas leak.
In a statement, Atlanta Gas Light said the 6-inch gas main was damaged when a contractor -- unrelated to the utilities company -- was doing construction work near Piedmont Avenue, which is close to the state Capitol.
As of 4:05 p.m., the gas had been turned off.
"At Atlanta Gas Light, safety is our number one value for our employees and customers. All buildings in the area are safe and have been cleared to reopen," a statement said. "We greatly appreciate our customers’ patience and cooperation as repairs to our gas main are underway and will continue through tomorrow. morning."
