A bulldozer ruptured a gas line on 4th Street Southeast at around 3 p.m. Monday, causing evacuations near the University of Minnesota. The gas line was later shut off at around 6:30 p.m., according to the Minneapolis Fire Department.
The MFD closed the stretch of road in the Prospect Park neighborhood from 27th to 30th Avenues Southeast on both 4th Street and University Avenue Southeast. The leak from the 12-inch pipe emitted gas into the air and led MFD to evacuate some area buildings.
All buildings within 1 block of the leak have been evacuated. CenterPoint Energy has arrived on scene.
— Minneapolis Fire (@MinneapolisFire) August 7, 2017
Metro Transit announced the nearby Green Line Light Rail would stop service to the area until the leak was fixed, and encouraged would-be riders to use buses instead.
At least four fire trucks and more ambulances were present as of 4:15 p.m., and around 100 onlookers gathered in the area to watch first responders as they addressed the leak.
The MFD could not immediately reached for comment.
