A natural gas leak shut down traffic in Brooklyn Park on Wednesday and forced the evacuation of an education facility.
A high-pressure pipe was hit by a private firm doing sewer work shortly after 11 a.m. at the intersection of 101st Street and Noble Parkway, Fire Chief Ken Prillaman said.
The natural gas was cut off in the area shortly after 1 p.m., making the area "completely safe" and allowing for traffic to return to normal by midafternoon, said Becca Virden, a spokeswoman for CenterPoint Energy.
The Eidem Homestead, a 10-acre living history farm southeast of the intersection, was evacuated of employees and visitors soon after the leak, Prillaman said. No other evacuations were necessary, the chief added.
Virden said a worker pulled on the main gas line during excavation work, "causing it to leak." She added that no natural gas customers lost service because there are two main lines serving the area.
PAUL WALSH
