Update: Service Nearly Restored at Gas Main Ruptured by Contractors

Efforts to replace older and deteriorating wooden electricity poles were stalled today when a contractor for Con Edison drove a metal auger into a 2-inch gas pipeline, causing a leak just before 2 p.m.

Twelve Scarsdale homes, predominantly located near Hillview Road and Crossway, went without gas service until 7:27 p.m. tonight, when 8 of the 12 were restored.

According to a Con Ed spokesman, the electrical utility did not have access to the other four homes, and before they can reconnect service, the company must run an "integrity test" which detects for leakage first before fully restoring gas services inside the residence.

"When we get access to them, they will be restored," said the spokesman.

The gas leak was cause for immediate and hurried response by the Fire Department this afternoon at 1:47 p.m., which was in the middle of hosting a festive "Day in the Country" at the nearest stationhouse to the leak, on Crossway near Mamaroneck Road.

The last time contractors broke into a gas pipe in a significant way there were dramatic consequences: During a reconstruction of 60 Fayette Rd., only three blocks away from today's leak, workers reported the incident to the fire department after smelling the gas, but it was too late. Fire crews appeared just moments before the massive $2.4 million home exploded, April 3, 2008.

Captain Gerard McIlvain said there was enough concern to stay on scene, outside of 4 Hillview Dr., until the area was secured.

"Hawkeye Construction was putting in a pole for electricity and using an auger; they accidentaily contacted a gas line," he said. "It's a gas main, so it came gushing out."

Barricades are blocking off the section of Crossway between Heathcote Road and Lebanon Road.

Con Edison workers were on scene, and starting to prepare to replace the gas line. Electricity was not affected, but no estimated restoration time was available yet for the gas lines, according to a Con Ed spokesman.

The offices of Hawkeye Electrical, which is based in Hauppague, Long Island, were closed at the time of this story's publication and a call was made to their emergency contact number.

Con Ed spokesman Bob McGee said the reports of the puncture came in from the construction company at 1:47 p.m.

"They hit a gas line, and they noticed an odor of gas," said McGee on behalf of Hawkeye. "The Fire Department, and of course us, we all responded, and once we got out there we found that the what had happened was the contractor had damaged a two-inch high-pressure gas main. So our gas crews turned off four main valves at about 3:00 p.m. to secure the leak, and that interruped about 12 private homes.

"We're on the location now, and trying to make repairs, and I just placed a call to find out exactly what the estimated time of restoration is," said McGee.

Editor's note: This article was originally published at 5:41 p.m. but was updated at 10:15 p.m.