Nearly 250 without gas and electricity after Minneapolis gas leak

A gas leak in Minneapolis has forced evacuations and left nearly 250 residents without gas and electricity for likely half a day or more.

The Minneapolis Fire Department said crews were called to a reported gas line leak near West Lake Street and Excelsior Boulevard just after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Crews from CenterPoint Energy were called to assess the situation and help mitigate the leak.

The department said CenterPoint had to shut off the gas line in order to stop the leak, and then estimated it will take 12 to 24 hours for crews to fix the damaged gas main. During that time, approximately 248 people in nearby residential and apartment buildings will be without gas and electricity.

Crews and Excel remain on scene working to mitigate the gas leak. Business and residential high-rise building in area have been evacuated. West Lake Street going westbound remains closed as well as Excelsior is only one lane. May be several hours until streets reopen.

— Minneapolis Fire (@MinneapolisFire) May 3, 2022

CenterPoint adds most of the people who are affected by the lack of gas live in a nearby apartment building.

Streets in the area were closed as crews worked on the gas line, and nearby residential and business buildings were evacuated due to gas odors and readings on monitors.

The leak, which has since been contained according to CenterPoint, was caused by a third-party contractor that hit a pipe while doing underground work in the area.

Eastbound lanes of traffic in the area will remain closed for about 12 hours the fire department said.

Centerpoint has swept all businesses in area. They can now open back up. Traffic will be shutdown on Lake St. between Excelsior and Drew for the next hour or so. East bound lanes will remain closed for 12 hours or so.

— Minneapolis Fire (@MinneapolisFire) May 3, 2022

Fire officials say businesses in the area, as well as residential buildings, have been cleared to reopen.

No one was injured, according to the fire department.

This is a developing story. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS will continue to update it as more information becomes available.