Traffic to be impacted by gas leak repairs in Decatur, city says

DECATUR, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Crews are racing to make repairs to a ruptured gas line in Decatur that forced the evacuation of several homes overnight.

The leak has been patched but the city says the intersection of Kathryn Avenue and Coventry Road will remain closed “until further notice” while workers repair the ruptured line.

“A contractor unrelated to Atlanta Gas Light, working on the water lines at this location, hit our 6-inch gas line,” an Atlanta Gas Light spokesperson said.

Five houses and one building with multiple units had to be evacuated, according to the city. One of the people evacuated was Wesley Rhodes.

“I parked, tried to walk in, a firefighter got my attention and turned around and yelled at me and said it was dangerous and it was a gas leak. But he did let my wife go and get our dog out of our apartment,” Rhodes said. “My wife said when she got to the apartment to get the dog, she could smell it in the apartment.”

People were allowed back into their homes around midnight.

Drivers should avoid Coventry Road, Merrill Avenue, Chelsea Drive, Pope Circle, and Kathryn Avenue. These roads all feed into a circle, which is currently closed off. There’s no clear indication as of yet on when the road will reopen.

Conventry Road will likely remain closed through the afternoon on Thursday. Repairs were delayed overnight because Georgia Gas Light workers discovered a sewage leak as well. A Georgia Gas Light spokesperson says Watershed Management will need to fix the sewage leak before the gas lines can be permanently repaired.

Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.