Video (01:35) : The first LRT vehicle to move on its own power on the newly constructed Central Corridor LRT Green Line project will be tested Thursday night along Washington Ave. on the University of Minnesota campus.
Crews tested the new Central Corridor light-rail line Thursday along its route through the University of Minnesota campus.
A gas leak at the old Sally's Saloon in Stadium Village at midday caused a 15-minute delay in the first round of testing. Fire crews briefly blocked the intersection of Oak Street and Washington Avenue, and a couple of people were evacuated from the building, said CenterPoint Energy spokeswoman Becca Virden.
She said the leak happened because crews doing demolition work at the eatery began pulling copper wire out of the building before the gas line was shut off.
Aside from that, Central Corridor light-rail spokeswoman Laura Baenen said Thursday's test went smoothly.
The daytime test used a railcar mover to pull a light-rail car. The nighttime test had a light-rail train make the trip on its own by drawing power from the overhead lines.
Officials will conduct more tests on campus, beginning Aug. 5.
Testing along the rest of the line from downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul via University Avenue will begin later this summer or in early fall, Baenen said.
When the route opens in mid-2014, it will be called the Metro Green Line.
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