HARWICH – A major gas leak shut down Main Street in Harwich Center for a period of time late Tuesday morning.
Crews working with heavy equipment in the rear of the Albro House dislodged a piece of wooden material that shot out from under the tracks of the bobcat and severed an above ground gas line just below the emergency shut-off valve causing a high pressure leak.
Harwich Police and Fire responded, called for National Grid on a rush and immediately evacuated the town hall located next door, the Brooks Library across the street as well as other buildings in the immediate vicinity of the leak.
Main Street traffic was shut down between Pleasant Lake Avenue (Route 124) and Oak Street with all traffic diverted around the area until National Grid could cap the leak. As a precaution, the Harwich Fire Department deployed a hand line but did not need to use it.
The hazard was mitigated quickly once the gas crews arrived and shut down the leak. The areas were ventilated to allow for occupants to return to the affected buildings. Traffic was reopened in the area and fire units cleared the scene in about an hour.
Reporting and photo by CWN associate Craig Chadwick
Speak Your Mind