Minneapolis Public Schools delayed its bus transportation service by one hour Tuesday afternoon because of a gas leak near the Metropolitan Transportation Network building in Fridley.
The school district contracts with Metropolitan Transportation Network, a private school bus company.
"Some schools will experience significant bus transportation delays this afternoon due to issues beyond our control," the state's third-largest school district announced on Twitter.
District spokesman Dirk Tedmon said the one-hour delay prevented 1,800 students from getting home on time.
Around 1 p.m., district officials were informed of the possible gas leak and they quickly worked with schools to inform parents of the delay, Tedmon said.
Jack Granlund, chief operating officer for the school bus company, said a nearby construction accident caused the gas leak. He said firefighters blocked the road for roughly two hours to repair the damage.
"We couldn't get our buses out until they had that done," Granlund said.
