Gas line capped in Fayetteville; Bragg Boulevard remains closed to traffic

A major gas leak in Fayetteville was contained Friday afternoon, but the closure for Bragg Boulevard will persist until midnight.

Posted 9:00 p.m. Jan 4 — Updated 11:16 p.m. Jan 5

Brett Knese, WRAL Reporter

and

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A major gas leak in Fayetteville was contained Friday afternoon, but the city said Bragg Boulevard will remain closed from Swain Street to Sycamore Dairy Road until midnight.

The surrounding stretch of Sycamore Dairy Road has reopened.

The gas leak was first reported Thursday around 2 p.m. Gas was billowing from the ground after a backhoe ruptured the 12-inch gas line, forcing evacuations for businesses and homes in the area.

Crews on Friday afternoon told WRAL News the gas line was capped and the gas has been rerouted.

On Friday morning before the repair, the smell of gas was described as "almost overpowering," but no injuries have been reported.

“A subcontractor working for the general contractor Barnhill struck a natural gas line along Bragg Blvd. while doing work for a contract awarded by the NCDOT last year,” said Andrew Barksdale with the NCDOT.

On Friday afternoon, crews were still working at the site. Residents and businesses near the leak were allowed to return to the area on Friday around 1:30 p.m.

WRAL News was told 47 residents and about six pets used a shelter the county opened after the leak.

Evacuation forces some families into shelters

The Sandhills Chapter of the Red Cross opened a shelter Thursday night for individuals and families at the Westover Recreation Center, located at 267 Bonanza Drive.

Kristy Blue and her mother were staying in a Motel 6 that was forced to evacuate due to the gas leak. The two went to the Red Cross for help.

"[We have] hot coffee and some shelter ... we're blessed, and we're highly favored," Blue said.

Colby Foster is the disaster program manager for the local chapter of the Red Cross.

"Larger or small, it is certainly going to make a disruption in their life. But the Red Cross is there to help. We certainly work on those families to come and know they have a safe space here," Foster said.

Many people in the area were taking advantage.

"We have we have seen a significant footprint here. We do expect it to fluctuate based on the time that the incident became aware to those that were residing and that community," Foster said.

According to Garry Crumpler, the emergency management coordinator for Cumberland County, evacuating the Motel 6 alone displaced more than 25 people, and they had to act quickly to set up the shelter.

"We set up our partners with Red Cross, as well as our social services branch, our public health branch, and animal services that take care of the animals that are here," Crumpler said.

Individuals who need assistance can reach the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Suggest A Correction