A natural gas leak in southeast Rochester on Wednesday led the Rochester Fire Department to close 50th Avenue Southeast at 15th Street, causing traffic delays for much of the day.
A fiber optics company was boring under the street about 11:55 a.m. when it struck the gas line, said Larry Mueller, assistant fire marshal. Leaking gas bubbled up through the ground.
Fire crews monitored the neighborhoods for gas levels, he said. The repair was a six-hour process.
The leak was repaired about 5:15 p.m., though the road remained closed to traffic in both directions until 7:30 p.m.
Members of the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and the Rochester Fire Department assisted in the area while Minnesota Energy Resources repaired the line.
