Update at 4:45 p.m. — Firefighters report that the gas has been shut off. Police are attempting to open up a lane of traffic through the intersection.
Earlier: A gas line break may snarl the drive home for some Crystal City commuters.
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gas leak
Earlier: A two square block area in the Buckingham neighborhood, near the Gates of Ballston apartment complex, has been closed to vehicle and pedestrian vehicle due to a gas line rupture.
Construction workers ruptured a 2 inch gas line outside an apartment building at the corner of 4th Street N. and N. Thomas Street, according to scanner traffic. Washington Gas is on scene making repairs while firefighters stand by.
The incident happened around 6:00 p.m. A repair person was working on a stove at the restaurant when some gas that had built up in the stove ignited, according to Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Gregg Karl.
The repair person was injured by broken glass, Karl said. The injuries were non-life-threatening.
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Update at 12:05 p.m. — The line is capped and streets will reopen once emergency equipment is cleared from the roadway.
Earlier: Crews are on the scene of a gas leak in Crystal City, where several blocks are being closed to traffic.
Arlington police and firefighters are shutting down part of Henderson Road near Ballston due to a gas main rupture.
Henderson Road is being closed between Glebe Road and N. Thomas Street, according to scanner traffic. Some buildings on the block may also be in the process of being evacuated.
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Update at 12:20 p.m. — Firefighters have cleared and drivers can now get through on Washington Blvd. Washington Gas remains at the scene.
Earlier: Drivers should avoid the area of Washington Blvd near N. Highland Street, where a gas leak is causing traffic trouble.
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Authorities have received multiple calls from people in the area who have smelled mercaptan, the odor additive in natural gas, according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Washington Gas has apparently traced the smell back to the gas transmission line, but it’s unclear what exactly is wrong with it. Road construction is taking place in the area, but Sternbeck said the gas company is investigating whether the weight of the vehicles passing by on westbound Route 50 is what’s actually causing problems.
Earlier road closures in the area have been lifted, Sternbeck said. Crews from VDOT and Washington Gas are still on the scene, trying to determine the extent of the problem.
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(Updated at 1:35 p.m.) Pershing Drive has been closed at N. Cleveland Street, between N. Barton Street and N. Danville Street in the Lyon Park neighborhood, due to a reported gas leak.
So far crews aren’t sure how big the ruptured gas line is, but there are concerns that it may be a larger distribution line.
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Update at 4:35 p.m. — The leak has been stopped. Police are reportedly preparing to reopen the southbound lanes of Glebe Road.
Update at 3:55 p.m. — From Arlington Alerts: “Both north and southbound Glebe Rd will be closed between N. Pershing Dr and N. Piedmont St through evening rush hour due to an outside gas leak. Please Avoid traveling in the area if possible.”
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The Arlington County Fire Department is investigating a possible gas leak inside Wakefield High School.
Firefighters are laying out fire hoses while they try to find the source of a gas-like odor in the school, which has been evacuated.
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) was evacuated around lunchtime today due to an odor of gas in the building.
Firefighters investigated the odor, but have since left. Library spokesman Peter Golkin says the library was back open as of 1:45 p.m.
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Update at 4:15 p.m. — The gas leak has been stopped and all lanes of westbound Route 50 are now open.
Earlier: The westbound lanes of Route 50 have been shut down near Fairfax Drive in Courthouse due to a gas line rupture.