News from City Hall

City Communications Office

City of Kansas City, Mo.

www.kcmo.org

CONTACT: Mary Charles, city communications officer, (816) 513-1356

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 18, 2009

City responds to downtown gas leak

City of Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department personnel are on the scene of a gas leak near Eighth Street and Madison Avenue. The site is underneath Interstate 70 on the northwest side of the downtown loop, in the area known as the Lewis and Clark Viaduct.

KCFD officials said the leak occurred about 1:15 p.m., when construction workers demolishing a building at the site apparently ruptured a gas line. Because the leak is directly under Interstate 70, the interstate has been closed at the location as a precautionary measure in case gas may be pooling under the area.

A five-block area around the site also has been cordoned off and only authorized persons are being allowed in to the area until Missouri Gas Energy crews are able to cap off the leak. Construction workers at the site have been evacuated. No other evacuations are under way at this time.

Members of the KCFD Hazardous Materials Team are at the site to monitor the air for any sign of concentrated pockets of gas around the bridge, however the readings have been insignificant so far.

KCFD, Kansas City Police Department and MAST personnel will remain at the site until the leak is capped and it is determined that there is no danger to the public.

Media inquiries about this issue should be directed to Battalion Chief Joe Vitale, public information officer, Kansas City Fire Department, (816) 346-1982 (media pager).

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