Gas Leak On Route US 40 at Airport Exit Causes Road and Business Closure

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio- A gas leak in the area caused some delays today in businesses and in traffic for those traveling US Route 40.

A gas line was struck by the digging of a back hoe due to the construction of the new Burger King. Dylan Beatty, EMS Capital Operations for Perry Township Fire Department explains what happened on the scene.

“We received a call for a gas leak in the area of Best Western. Our crews arrived on scene with a large pool of white vapor basically audible gas, audible leak,” Beatty stated. “The belief cause its that they were digging with track hoe and I believe they just struck a gas line underneath.”

Roads were closed, businesses in the area were shut down and they also had to quarantine the guest inside the Best Western hotel, says Beatty.

“It was a dual fed system so they shut off the valve at one end and then they were able to locate a second valve, shut everything down. So everything is resolved at this point. We’re just waiting on the gas to dissipate the area and we’ll open back up all the businesses and the roads,” Beatty said.

The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office did close down Interstate 70 ramps, except the westbound on ramp due to the gas leak, but no residents in the area were evacuated.