Gas leak stalls traffic in Saugus

SAUGUS – Construction debris crushed an underground gas line near Spud’s Restaurant Thursday morning prompting police to close down a section of Lincoln Avenue while workers located and repaired the pipe leak.The leak occurred at 7:06 a.m. as workers prepared to continue repairs along a section of Lincoln near Spud’s and the Saugus River. A piece of curbing or other stone debris fell into an excavation trench and crushed the one-and-a-half inch diameter gas pipe.”A curb on roadside was left unsupported and fell into the excavation, damaging the service to Spud’s,” said Keyspan spokesman David Graves.Police shut down Lincoln between Winter and Hamilton streets and rerouted traffic while police and Keyspan workers gained access to Spud’s and determined gas had not leaked into the restaurant.”Because it was locked, we forced entry along with the police to determine there was no leak going into the building. We shut off service and secured the area,” Graves said.The break left the restaurant without gas service, forcing it to close until 4:30 p.m. Although traffic was rerouted, no residential or business evacuations were required, said Saugus Fire Capt. Donald Shea.Graves said Keyspan workers also propped up two utility poles found leaning near the excavation site with structural supports. He said the gas pipe’s location was “properly and clearly marked.”