City News

Gas line rupture in west Billings causes road closure

Posted: Dec 29, 2012 3:37 PM by Q2 News
Updated: Dec 29, 2012 6:21 PM

BILLINGS- Emergency crews had King Avenue West blocked off to through traffic at South 44th Street West in Billings Saturday afternoon until a punctured natural gas line could be shut off.

According to the Billings Police Department, a construction crew punctured a gas line close to the roundabout at that intersection on Saturday afternoon.

Police, along with the Billings Fire Department, had the intersection blocked for more than 150 yards in each direction.

Despite the distance, the sound of the gas leaking (as well as a very strong odor) could be detected from the barriers set up by officials.

However, police did not evacuate the area and were allowing nearby residents to use the road to get to their homes.

A utilities crew from Montana Dakota Utilities was on the scene of the leak and they were expected to have the gas line completely shut off by 4 o'clock.