Three gas leaks in Triangle area make for busy day for crews

Authorities have closed N.C. Highway 42 at Buffalo Road after crews accidentally struck a gas line during a road widening project Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Posted 9:22 p.m. Aug 27, 2019 — Updated 3:40 a.m. Aug 28, 2019

Rosalia Fodera

, WRAL reporter

CLAYTON, N.C. — Gas leaks in Johnston, Wake and Durham counties on Tuesday made for a hectic day for crews responsible for making those fixes.

N.C. Highway 42 at Buffalo Road was closed in Johnston County for several hours after a gas leak was reported. The leak began around 2:30 p.m. after crews accidently struck a gas line during a road widening project. The leak hasn't been capped but the intersection was opened again to traffic.

No injuries were reported but officials ordered the evacuation of a nearby CVS drugstore just to be on the safe side. No homes were evacuated.

"They kept detouring us. We don't know where we are now," said Nelson Gilmore, one of many people who were detoured from the scene of the gas leak.

A Piedmont Natural Gas leak also happened in Durham. A six-inch line leak shut down Avondale Drive and Camden Avenue for a few hours on Tuesday. Officials said there were 25 homes on Avondale Drive evacuated and school buses were rerouted back to their schools for students who lived in the area.

Officials said 550 customers also lost power and a firefighter had to be treated for heat exhaustion.

In Raleigh, a Dominion line gas leak was reported on Chapanoke Road. That leak was also eventually repaired.

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