Construction Crew Strikes Gas Line on William Clarke Drive

AJ:

A gas line rupture at the William Clarke Drive reconstruction site Monday
afternoon in Westbrook closed the highway and evacuated 13 downtown buildings.
Westbrook Fire Chief Mike Pardue said Grondin, contractor for the construction
project, struck a gas service line into the former Sebago Moc building at the
corner of Mechanic Street and William Clarke Drive. "The main 6-inch line is
spewing gas, it's a high pressure main," Pardue said at the scene. According to
Westbrook dispatch, utility workers stopped the gas leak at 2:01 p.m. about one
hour after the rupture was reported at 1:07 p.m. No injuries were reported and
the highway reopened.

- John C.L. Morgan