Ruptured Rexburg gas line causes delays

An Intermountain gas line that was struck at a construction site is caused traffic delays Monday in Rexburg.

South second West between third South and Second South will be closed until about 3 p.m Monday so crews can repair the leak.

Rexburg Police Capt. Randy Lewis said a detective was on his way to work around 7:45 a.m. Monday and smelled a natural gas odor.

Officials later discovered that was from a struck gas line at a construction site. The leak shut down roads in the area, police encouraged motorist to take alternate routes.

CenturyLink Telecommunications was also called out to the gas leak Monday morning to make sure no underground phone lines would be hit by the Intermountain gas crew.

“No lines were found in the area,” CenturyLink locator Joel Gordo said.

Rocky Mountain Power locator Joel Gordo also responded to the gas leak.

“I’m here to make sure no underground power lines are hit because that would result in a power outage. I know in an area further up the road there are power lines that can be hit by Intermountain workers,” Gordo said.

The stretch of road has since been reopened.

Everyone living in nearby apartments was evacuated Monday morning, but residents were later allowed to return home.

Intermountain Manager of energy utilization Cheryl Imlach said the situation is still under investigation.

Imlach also said everyone should be reminded to always call the 811 Dig Line before continuing with excavation projects.

A Dig Line is a one-call system that assists you in finding the location of buried utilities that may interfere with excavation projects.