Gas leak closes U.S. 2

Published 9:00 pm Monday, July 25, 2005

MONROE – A leak from a natural gas line closed all lanes of busy U.S. 2 in the city for almost four hours Monday, backing up traffic for miles and hurting area businesses.

Michael O’Leary / The Herald Monroe firefighters, police officers and Puget Sound Energy personnel respond to a broken gas line at U.S. 2 and Kelsey Street in Monroe on Monday.

A City Council member said the problem highlighted the need for an alternate route in the area.

The city needs a bypass around the highway, Ken Berger said, adding the city is planning such a road north of the highway.

A construction worker accidentally broke the 4-inch-wide plastic natural gas line with a backhoe, buried up to 6 feet underground at N. Kelsey Street and the highway around 9:30 a.m. Contractors for the state Department of Transportation were excavating to widen the highway.

The smell of gas spread throughout the area surrounded by businesses, including a gas station and restaurant. A crew from Puget Sound Energy capped the leak, said Tim Bader, the energy firm’s spokesman.

Later, the company shut off the line and expected to complete repairs late Monday, Bader said, adding the company was still evaluating the damage.

Officials evacuated some businesses and closed the highway between 179th Avenue SE and Chain Lake Road from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to the transportation department.

Berger was on his way home from Everett when he was caught in traffic about 10:30 a.m. near the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

“The backup was just horrible,” he said.

Berger had to weave through small side streets in downtown Monroe; it took him 90 minutes to make his way home on the east side of town, he said.

“Now I’m at home, I’m staying home,” Berger said.

The incident didn’t force nearby Fred Meyer to evacuate, but the road closure hurt its business, store director Mike Hogenson said.

“It was quite a bit quieter than normal,” Hogenson said, adding the store sent some employees home early.

A Denny’s restaurant sits across from the scene. Officials told the restaurant to evacuate everyone, including about 100 customers, said Dave Sandhop, general manager.

The restaurant closed but reopened about 2 p.m., Sandhop said. The incident probably cost the restaurant a few thousand dollars, he said.

“It was very frustrating,” he said.

Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.