Cary Intersection Reopens After Gas Line Rupture, Fire

A major Cary intersection that was shut down after a contractor drilled into a gas line Wednesday reopened Thursday morning.

Posted 9:39 a.m. Oct 11, 2007 — Updated 2:15 p.m. Oct 11, 2007

CARY, N.C. — All lanes of Kildaire Farm and Tryon roads in Cary reopened to traffic Thursday after being shut down Wednesday when a drill rig hit a natural gas line and fire erupted.

Part of the intersection of Kildaire Farm and Tryon had reopened at about 6 a.m. after crew worked all night on repairs. Southbound Kildaire Farm Road and one eastbound lane of Tryon remained closed for a while longer.

Fulcher Electric Co., a contractor working on the traffic lights at the intersection, pierced an 8-inch steel gas line Wednesday morning. The resulting fire ignited fumes from a nearby truck. At one point, gas flames shot more than 100 feet in the air.

PSNC Energy spokeswoman Angie Townsend said crews spent most of Wednesday digging a hole under Kildaire Farm Road to access the gas main to isolate the damaged section and cap it off. The line was capped about six hours later, and the gas burned off shortly after that.

Town officials shut down the roads and evacuated nearby businesses. No one was injured.

Several businesses in Waverly Place and Crescent Commons shopping centers, forced to close during the fire, were expected to reopen Thursday.

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