Gas leak prompts street shutdown near Superblock

The leak started around 2 p.m.

A+gas+leak+near+Superblock+prompted+a+brief+shutdown+of+the+streets+on+Wednesday%2C+Feb.+14

Image by Helen Sabrowsky

A gas leak near Superblock prompted a brief shutdown of the streets on Wednesday, Feb. 14

by Helen Sabrowsky

A gas leak near Harvard Street and Delaware Street at the University of Minnesota prompted a brief shutdown of Harvard Street from East River Parkway to Washington Avenue Southeast Wednesday afternoon.

The leak started around 2 p.m., after a construction crew hit a gas line, according to a University of Minnesota Police officer Mike Welsh. The Minneapolis Fire Department responded to the leak. By 2:45 p.m., the leak was under control and police were clearing the area.

A span from East River Parkway to Washington Avenue Southeast was briefly blocked off, but students were allowed to enter Weaver-Densford Hall. 

The gas leak was never a threat to the University community, according to University spokesperson Lacey Nygard.