[UPDATED] Gas Main Leak Closes Portion of West Main Street

Updated at 12:16 p.m.

Deputy Chief William Pepe reported that an excavator owned by Empire Paving Company struck a 4-inch, high-pressure gas service main that feeds the old Echlin Manufacturing Company building at 965 West Main St. today around 10:30 a.m.

Paving crews immediately cleared the area once they struck the pipe, and exited to wait the arrival of emergency crews, stated Pepe.

Upon arrival, Branford Fire Department and quickly addressed the scene and closed West Main Street at Alps Road, near the scene of the break and at Jefferson Road on the opposite end of the area. Traffic was detoured to Short Beach Road just pass the West Rotary.

Earlier today, Empire Paving also damaged a fire hydrant located next to the dig site around 8 a.m. prior to the gas main break, said Pepe, but added that the damaged hydrant was not related to the break. Branford Fire Department responded this morning to address the issue and had to take the hydrant out of service. The hydrant will be repaired after the paving company is done working sometime in the next few days according to Pepe.

Empire Paving is working to widen West Main Street as part of the to make the traffic flow better in the area and add an additional turning lane.

Following the road closure, Southern Connecticut Gas Company was able to shut off the gas by 11 a.m. and West Main Street was re-opened by 11:45 a.m. The gas company is currently on scene repairing the leak.

The paving company’s site work has been suspended for the immediate for future for review.

Update at 11:35 a.m.

West Main Street has been re-opned after gas main leak at Alps Road caused temporary closure. 

Update at 11:15 a.m.

Branford Patch Editor Nicole Ball is reporting from the scene that West Main Street "should be open in the next 15 minutes. Gas main leak secured according to sources. Still proceed with caution."

Early reports have been confirmed that construction crews from Empire Paving working at West Main Street and Alps Road hit a gas main, causing a leak around 10:30 a.m. today. responded and with the assistance of the closed West Main Street at Alps Road and at Jefferson Road while the Southern Connecticut Gas Compnay addressed the leak. By 11:05 a.m., crews were reporting that the leak was secured and West Main would be re-opened by 11:45 a.m..

Employees of nearby businesses such as LoMonoco's Italian Restaurant were ordered to stay indoors during the incident.

Branford Patch will provide additional updates as new information becomes available.

Update at 11:05 a.m.

West Main Street is close to reopening as gas company crews finish up their work to resolve the leak issue, according to Branford Fire scanner reports.

Original Story

A gas main leak has occured along West Main Street in Branford in the area of LoMonoco's Italian Restaurant.

Branford Fire Chief Jack Ahern confirmed to Branford Patch that the gas main leak just after 10:30 a.m.

Gas company officials are now on the scene working to resolve the issue, according to scanner reports.

The leak has lead to the closure of a portion of the busy local state route, in the area of Orchard Hill Road down around to the Branhaven Plaza.

Branford Patch will provide additional updates as new information becomes available.