A gas leak in Miami led to the shutdown of a major bridge on Friday, wreaking havoc for drivers and local residents. The Northwest 22nd Avenue bridge, a key artery in the city's infrastructure, was closed after a construction crew accidentally busted a natural gas pipeline. According to WSVN, the incident occurred when the crew's equipment punctured a 10-inch steel gas line, necessitating extensive repair work by emergency and gas company workers. The bridge, spanning between Northwest 14th and 18th Streets, will remain closed until repairs are completed, advised Miami Police.
Gas continues to flow to approximately 3,000 customers despite the leak, which was deep enough to be a hassle for the repair crews. Described by Miami Fire Rescue's Ignatius Carroll in a statement obtained by WSVN, "It was too deep to reach with hand tools and you had to bring in heavy equipment." Carroll detailed the difficulty of the situation as hazmat personnel toiled to mend the ruptured line buried 20 feet underground.
Miami residents have been advised to steer clear of the bridge and seek alternative routes such as Northwest 27th Avenue or Northwest 17th Avenue. The NBC Miami reports that although the bridge closure impacts both vehicles and pedestrians, no service interruptions have been reported by the gas company to its customers in downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, and Little Havana.
While the smell of the leaking gas can be detected, there is no immediate danger to the residents, as clarified by Carroll in his remarks to WSVN, "You smell it as it’s being pushed by the wind but it starts to dissipate so there's no concern as far as it affecting the residents here. But we’ll continue to monitor it until we get it fixed." The urgency of the situation saw emergency crews pulling late-night shifts to ensure the safety of the community and the expedient repair of the gas line.
Though the repair job may extend for hours or possibly days, the officials have not specified an exact timeline for the reopening of the bridge. Drivers and locals are expected to contend with the inconvenience over the coming days as the city works to resolve the issue.
