Manhole Explosions In Brookline Shut Down Route 9

BROOKLINE, MA — Manhole explosions along Route 9 have prompted police to close off Route 9 between Warren Street and Cypress Street for more than an hour Wednesday night.

Several residents reported hearing two loud explosions around 6 p.m. Shortly after, fire officials were in the area of the 300 and 400 blocks of Boylston Street for reports of smoking manholes. They then found at least two manhole covers ajar.

"We are on scene and investigating," said Mary-Leah Messenger a representative for National Grid told Patch at 8 p.m.

It's not clear what caused the explosions, but fire officials said it looked like something electrical likely ignited a gas leak underground.

According to police, the explosions were so strong that at least one building along the road had shattered glass. Some people were reporting a strong odor of gas and firefighters went door to door checking for signs of gas leaks.

After the explosions, the traffic delays on Rt 9 were immediate as police closed down the roadway for more than an hour so that crews and National Grid could work to find and address the issue.

Police were advising drivers to avoid Route 9 between Cypress and Warren Street and Sumner Road, as they closed side streets nearby like Kennard Road and Milton Road.

Brookline resident Marcel Wayne said he was driving past the Audi dealership heading toward the high school when he heard something that sounded like a bomb, he said.

"My car shook," Wayne told Patch. "I really thought a car coming out of the dealership hit me."

He pulled over, got out and looked at the back of his car and looked around. When he didn't see any damage he got back in and by then a police officer was in the middle of Route 9 directing traffic.

Wayne said police were already nearby when he felt the explosion, but suddenly there were sirens everywhere and police were suddenly directing traffic.

He was lucky enough not to get stuck in the traffic that ensued.

Kathy Bisbee director of Brookline Interactive Group said she felt the explosions from where she was on the third floor of Brookline High.

"Felt like a building demolition... twice," she tweeted.

Others said they felt them as far as Coolidge Corner.

There are some 275 gas leaks that have not been repaired across Brookline, according to an organization that counts and collects that data. There are several along Route 9 in the area, a HEET map shows.

Also in Brookline:

• Map Reveals Hundreds of Gas Leaks Across Brookline
• Mothers Out Front Tackled Gas Leaks in Brookline
• Brookline Residents, Town Want To Know Why Trees Keep Falling

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).