Crime & Safety
Gas Line Break Prompts Downtown Austin Street Closures
Hazmat crews rushed to 700 block of Colorado Street after gas line break, closing off Lavaca and Colorado streets as a result.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — A key downtown Austin street was closed to traffic on Monday after crews accidentally ruptured a gas line, fire officials said.
Austin Fire Department hazmat task force members responded to the 700 block of Colorado Street late Monday morning amid reports of the gas line rupture. The gas line is located in an alley between 7th and 8th streets, according to fire officials.
As a result of the line break, both Lavaca and Colorado streets have been shut down between 7th and 8th streets, fire officials said via Twitter. Officials added gas has entered a storm sewer as a result of the break, and fire crews are monitoring the Brown building and UT Systems facility as a result of the breach
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Austin Fire Department officials were able to shut off the damaged gas line by Monday evening. On Twitter, fire officials explained the process was made more challenging given the presence other adjacent utility lines.
700 Colorado. Pictures of Gas clamp in place underneath high voltage power lines. Great team effort by Texas Gas, Austin Energy, Austin Police and Fire pic.twitter.com/5aRXnLcjeM
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) February 19, 2019
Final update 700 Colorado. @TexasGasService has shut off damaged gas line. Crews had a difficult time accessing gas line due to other buried utilities including two 34KV power lines. Colorado will remain closed for road repairs but Lavaca will open shortly. Fire units clearing
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) February 19, 2019
Re Hazmat Task Force 700 Colorado. Contractor hit gas line in alley between 7th and 8th. Both Lavaca and Colorado have been shut down between 7th and 8th as some gas is entering storm sewer. Crews are monitoring in both the Brown building and the UT Systems Building 1/2
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) February 18, 2019
2/2 no evacuations at this point. @TexasGasService is on scene. pic.twitter.com/L9d21FfeRI
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) February 18, 2019
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>>> Image via Shuttersock
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