Times staff
A construction crew working at the Ameriplex in the Port of Portage hit a natural gas line, causing a major gas leak that forced the closure of Interstate 94 between Indiana 249 and US 20, the city announced shortly after noon Tuesday.
“There is a smell of gas to the south of this area and NIPSCO will be checking the area south of I-94 and north of US 20 for gas levels,” Mayor Austin Bonta said in an announcement of the emergency. “For your own safety, please stay away from the area. If you feel you have any of these symptoms, please call 911.”
Portage police are asking people to avoid the 6700 block of Daniel Burnham Drive, but say evacuations of neighboring businesses or homes are not necessary.
“Please expect heavy traffic and delays along the US Highway 20 corridor as this is the alternate route for I-94 traffic,” police said on social media.
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Police say NIPSCO crews are on site to make repairs and monitor gas levels in the area. No injuries were reported in this incident, police said.
Shortly after 1 p.m., Indiana State Police Sergeant Glen Fifield said the Portage Fire Chief told him the repair work would take “several hours,” according to NIPSCO. The interstate will be closed for the duration of the work “and likely even longer,” Fifield posted on social media.
