A significant natural gas leak shut down a stretch of Route 73 in Berlin Township, Camden County, on Wednesday afternoon, prompting police to urge drivers to steer clear of the area while crews worked to address the problem. Officials said the leak could even cause a gas odor to drift into parts of Berlin Borough.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the cause of the leak and officials' expected timeline for patching it and reopening the roadway were both unknown as of Wednesday. The outlet reported that anyone who suspects a natural gas leak at their own home or business should call 911 rather than wait it out.
Conflicting Accounts of Where the Closure Hit
Exactly where the shutdown took hold depends on which report you read. Patch reported that the Berlin Township Police Department said Route 73 was closed in both directions at Jackson Road because of the emergency gas leak, and that drivers were asked to avoid the area entirely. A separate account from 6abc described a different scope, saying authorities temporarily closed only the southbound lanes at Cooper Road while crews made emergency repairs, diverting all traffic onto Cooper Road during the closure.
6abc also reported that traffic was backed up across Camden County, with the New Jersey Department of Transportation warning of delays along Route 73 in Berlin. The available reporting does not make clear whether the Jackson Road and Cooper Road accounts describe the same incident at different points in time or two distinct trouble spots along the corridor.
A Reminder of How Quickly These Situations Can Escalate
South Jersey has seen gas emergencies shut down roads before. In May 2019, workers apparently struck a 6-inch gas line at Egg Harbor Road and East Fleming Pike in nearby Winslow Township, according to nj.com. That leak was serious enough that the fire department evacuated residents within close proximity as a precaution. By 6 p.m. that day, crews had secured the leak and residents were allowed back into their homes, with no injuries reported.
There is no indication in current reporting on the Berlin Township incident that evacuations have occurred or that anyone has been hurt. For now, police are simply asking drivers to avoid the stretch of Route 73 near Jackson Road while the situation is resolved, and residents who smell gas near their own property are being told to call 911 immediately rather than assume it is connected to the roadway closure.
