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I-75, Bruce B. Downs Reopened After Natural Gas Leak

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

A backhoe with PCL Civil Constructors hit a 6-inch natural gas line about 1 p.m. today. The subsequent leak closed Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Interstate 75 in New Tampa.

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TBO.com

Published: September 15, 2008

Updated: 09/15/2008 06:18 pm

NEW TAMPA - Interstate 75 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard are now open after a gas leak forced both roads to close at their junction.

Workers have capped the natural gas leak, but traffic remains backed up on the alternate routes.

Portions of both roads were closed through the afternoon and well into the evening rush hour.

Closing the two major roads has turned traffic into a nightmare snarl.

In addition to massive traffic headaches during rush hour, the problem delayed school buses taking students home from schools in New Tampa.

Four elementary schools are directly affected: Chiles, Clark, Hunter's Green and Turner.

Middle schools affected were Bartels, Benito and Liberty. Freedom and Wharton high schools also will see delays.

Parents with children at the schools were expected to receive an automated telephone call about the delay.

Traffic northbound on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard is being turned around via Tampa Palms Boulevard. Southbound traffic is being turned around at Dona Michelle Drive.

The highway patrol diverted northbound I-75 traffic to Fletcher Avenue. Southbound drivers exited I-75 to State Road 56 or Interstate 275 South, according to the highway patrol.

The leak was in the median of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, said John McShaffrey, of the Florida Department of Transportation.

A backhoe operated by a worker with PCL Civil Constructors Inc. hit a 6-inch natural gas line about 1 p.m., he said.

PCL is working on improvements at the interchange that include the construction of a flyover access ramp from southbound Bruce B. Downs to the southbound lanes of the interstate.

No injuries have been reported.

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

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