A gas main break in Royal Oak shut down Woodward Avenue between Interstate 696 and Catalpa Drive Wednesday afternoon when road construction crews working on resurfacing the busy street struck a 2-inch gas main, according to Royal Oak Fire Chief Chuck Thomas.
Homes on Hartrick Avenue and a few businesses were evacuated as a precaution, Thomas said.
The chief acknowledged Royal Oak residents have a heightened sense of concern for gas leaks after an explosion in the 4000 block of Cooper Street caused severe damage to homes and killed one person in February.
"We take these situations differently than the average person," Thomas said of Wednesday's evacuations. "But really, it was just a normal day for us."
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