Lexington Fire Department crews blocked off a portion of Avenue of Champions Thursday morning during a gas leak that temporarily shut down Limestone from Virginia Avenue to Avenue of Champions. Columbia Gas was able to shut off the gas around 10:30 a.m., allowing traffic to begin flowing normally near North Campus. Photo by Allie Garza | Staff
A gas leak had the major arteries around UK’s North Campus temporarily shut down Thursday morning as crews worked to alleviate the situation.
After a five-inch gas line had been struck at the corners of Winslow Avenue and Avenue of Champions, Columbia Gas crews worked to find a way to stop the gas from escaping.
Businesses along South Limestone, from Kennedy Book Store up to McDonald’s had been evacuated as the Lexington Police Department and Lexington Fire Department monitored the situation.
Dorms on UK’s North Campus were not evacuated after the fire department checked gas readings and found the residences to be safe, said Major Shaun Brown of the Lexington Fire Department.
By 10:30 a.m., Columbia Gas had clamped off the line and gas was shut off, allowing for roads to be open and traffic to begin flowing normally.
The incident occurred when construction crews were digging up underground lines and struck a gas line because of incorrect information they had been given.
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