Road work ruptures gas line in Danvers

Thursday, September 6, 2007 11:41 PM CDT

By Pantagraph staff

DANVERS — Five homes were evacuated on Danvers’ north side after a backhoe struck a natural-gas line during work on a blacktop road, a utility official said.

Bernard Anderson, a spokesman for Nicor, said a contractor renovating a road struck and ruptured a 1-inch gas main about 2 p.m. while working at the intersection of West and Park streets. The town’s fire department evacuated the five houses as a precaution, he said.

A fire official said people were allowed to return to their homes about 6 p.m.

Repairs were expected to continue into the night, Anderson said.

Danvers Police Chief Jeff Tapke said the contractor was working on a road that had already been closed. He said the hissing of escaping gas was audible from a block away.

People who planning to dig should call Nicor at (888) Nicor4U or JULIE, a utility location service, by dialing 811, Anderson said.