A gas leak brought downtown Winnipeg traffic to a standstill just after 9:15 a.m. Wednesday morning.
It also caused an evacuation in parts of the city’s core.
People were forced out of at least one building in the 300 block of Portage Avenue.
Construction crews were working in the alleyway behind 330 Portage Avenue.
A worker was cutting concrete, when he hit a four-inch gas main and caused a break in the line.
Firefighters ordered people to leave the area and blocked off traffic from Hargrave Street down St. Mary Avenue and Portage Avenue to Carlton Street.
James Wood works on the 17th floor of 330 Portage Avenue and said it wasn’t until he got closer to street level that the leak became apparent.
“When we exited out the alley, you could smell and hear the gas leaking from outside the building,” he said.
Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Scott Powell said because the break happened on an exposed line, the gas was venting into the air.
“When it vents into the atmosphere, that's kind of the best way - if you're going to have a break. It just vents into the atmosphere and dissipates, and there's little risk there,” he said.
Around 11:30 a.m., gas was shut off to 21 buildings in downtown Winnipeg to allow for repair work.
Manitoba Hydro said repairs to the gas line were complete late Wednesday afternoon.
Gas services were expected to be fully restored to all affected businesses around 5:30 p.m.
- with a report from Cheryl Holmes
