I-94 lanes reopen in Northwest Indiana after gas leak causes major gridlock
PORTAGE, Ind. (CBS) -- A major gas leak in northwest Indiana forced officials to shut down a stretch of Interstate 94 for several hours—causing major gridlock on Tuesday afternoon.
The Portage Fire Department responded to the gas leak in the Ameriplex complex north of I-94, near a Bass Pro Shops store, around midday. The site was on a plot of land along Daniel Burnham Drive, which runs parallel to I-94.
The plume of dangerous natural gas shut down I-94 in both directions between Portage and Burns Harbor, Indiana.
It was not until around 6:20 p.m. that Indiana State Police said all lanes both eastbound and westbound on the interstate were being reopened.
The leak happened after a contractor struck a pipe in the area while doing some underground digging, Indiana State Police and NIPSCO said.
Officials shared video of the gas leak, showing a visible cloud of gas rising into the air from a damaged underground gas line. Still, NIPSCO said the area remained safe despite the leak.
Despite the size of the gas leak, there were not widespread evacuations—only some businesses that are located in the Ameriplex complex had to be evacuated. But Portage, Indiana Mayor Austin Bonta said I-94 was shut down because of the potential fire risk to cars driving by—and low visibility caused by the shooting gas.
"Aggravation," said Theresa Pacholke. "I don't know why it's taken so long."
Mayor Bonta said in a Facebook post the part that was needed to fix the busted plastic gas pipe was onboard a truck that was itself stuck in the traffic backup like everyone else—and a police escort was needed to get the truck through.
Once the gas was finally shut off, NIPSCO crews could be seen working to make the needed repairs.
"We tried getting to Michigan City, but we never made it," said Brendan Kellaeris, who gave up and turned around.
Pacholke was in the car for 2 hours and 15 minutes.
"From Michigan City to Portage, normally 35, 40 minutes," she said.
There were no reports of any injuries connected to the gas leak.
