Residents near the new Hy-Vee grocery store were evacuated from their homes for a short time Tuesday morning after a gas line at the construction site was punctured, causing it to leak.
According to Jefferson police chief Dave Morlan, the LEC was notified of the leak at 9:33 am. JPD officers and Jefferson firemen assisted with blocking traffic and knocking on doors, notifying residents of the leak and asking them to leave. Greene County EMS also placed vehicles to block traffic to the area.
Alliant Energy was on the scene soon after and barricades were placed blocking streets adjacent to the leak.
By 10:15, construction crews were back to work outside the building and residents were allowed back in their homes. Hy-Vee project superintendent Dave O’Neal said crews would not work inside the building until Alliant had the leak repaired.
O’Neal said gas leaks happen only occasionally, estimating the occurrence at about once out of 100 projects.
