16th Street Jack in the Box closed briefly due to gas leak

A main road through Yuma was shut down briefly Wednesday afternoon after construction workers hit a gas line.

According to Southwest Gas spokeswoman Libby Howell, at about 1 p.m. a construction crew installing a water line in the vicinity of 16th Street and 3rd Avenue hit the service line to the Jack in the Box restaurant at that location.

Howell said the building, which had eight people in it at the time, was evacuated and 16th Street between 1st and 3rd avenues was temporarily closed.

Gas company crews responded to the scene and had the line shut off within half an hour, Libby said.

"We are still making repairs to the Jack in the Box service line and expect to be done within the hour," Libby said.

She added once the line was shut down the road was reopened. People weren't allowed to return to the restaurant, however, until about 2:30 p.m.

"The only reason they weren't allowed in sooner is because we did leak surveys to make sure it didn't cause damage to any other lines in the area," Libby said.

Southwest Gas workers also responded to a broken line in Wellton on Wednesday in the vicinity of Pacific Avenue and County 29E.

Libby said a construction crew, which was installing conduit, hit a service line to a residential area at about 2:45 p.m.

"It didn't take very long at all," Libby said.

Although gas had been restored by 3:15 p.m., Libby said residents had been evacuated from the area as a precaution until the work was complete.

----

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.