Gas Line Ruptures Behind Little Neck McDonald's

Update, 1:09 p.m.: Due to the gas leak's location on a "single service" line, interruptions in business and residential gas service from this morning's incident are not anticipated, according to a ConEd spokesman.

The spokesman added that an adjacent residence was evacuated after the discovery of the gas leak — "only as a precaution."

The smell of leaking gas hung in the air behind a McDonald's on Northern Boulevard and Marathon Parkway early Monday as Con Edison crews worked to locate and repair a section of broken pipe.

According to a contractor working at the scene, the rupture occurred as a result of excavation to install a drainage overflow pipe in a section of the fast food restaurant's parking lot prone to flooding during heavy rain and snowmelt events.

"I started to smell the gas and called the Fire Department," said the Kings Park-based contractor, Dennis, who declined to give his last name. "It's better to be safe than sorry."

The contractor claimed that the section of gas pipe ruptured today was "unmarked."

As of noon, the restaurant remained closed due to ongoing work to patch the gas leak.

Firefighters from Tower Ladder 160 responded to the scene. Officers from the 111th Precinct closed off a section of Marathon Parkway between Northern Boulevard and 43rd Avenue to thru traffic.

As of 10:15 a.m., workers with ConEd said they were still working to completely shut off the leak. No service interruptions for nearby residents were reported.

"But that could change," the worker said.