Gas Leak In Downtown Waukesha Prompts Street Closures

WAUKESHA, WI — A backhoe operator struck a 10-inch steel gas main in Downtown Waukesha Wednesday morning, prompting multiple street closures and some evacuations.

Authorities were sent downtown to the area of Main Street and Barstow Street for a report of a gas main break in the road construction area.

When authorities arrived, they quickly evacuated people in the immediate area. Those that were not evacuated were told to shelter in place.

Waukesha Metro Transit was called and responded with buses to help shelter people who were temporarily displaced during the gas leak.

Wisconsin Electric & Gas Company workers arrived on scene at approximately about 20 minutes after the report of the leak, and took about two-and-a-half hours to secure the steel 10-inch main that was struck with a backhoe during scheduled road construction.

Authorities said there were no injuries reported.

All effected businesses and residence were allowed back into their buildings later Wednesday morning.

"We understand that this was inconvenient to those in the area but would like to thank everyone for
listening and getting to a safe location, this allowed us to focus our attention on mitigating this gas leak," Waukesha Fire Battalion Chief Scott Purdy said.

Main Street is shut down from the five points to Martin St., though most businesses are still open, police said Wednesday morning.

Waukesha police told Patch that a gas main was hit by a backhoe during the road construction project and WE Energies has since shut the gas off.

According to a WISN-12 report, a private contractor hit a gas main at about 7:30 a.m. and area residents reported the leak after they smelled gas in the area, police said. There are no reports of injuries.