Ann Arbor City Hall evacuated after gas line break
Children cross Ann Street at North Fourth Avenue after being evacuated from the Hands-On Museum because of a gas line break a the Ann Arbor City Hall construction project.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Ann Arbor City Hall, the Hands-On Museum and the City Center Building, all at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Huron Street were evacuated immediately after construction workers struck the line about 11:15 a.m. Evacuees were allowed back in the buildings about 1 p.m.
Ann Street between North Fifth Avenue and Division Street remains closed as DTE Energy makes repairs.
The line was struck by sidewalk and sewer workers outside the construction of the police and courts addition at city hall, said Battalion Chief Robert Vogel. A strong odor of gas could be smelled in the surrounding area. No one was injured.
Today is the day when city property taxes were due, Vogel said. Updates will be posted on the city website and Facebook page.
Crews also broke a gas line at the city hall construction site on June 10.
Peggy Pietras, director of finance for the Hands-On Museum, said about about 500 people had been scheduled to tour the museum today, one of its busiest days of the season. Many of those people were in the museum when the alarms went off. "Almost all of the groups ended up going home," she said.
The museum opened back up this afternoon and said things were back to normal. Museum staff will call the groups and try to reschedule them for another visit, she said.
Comments
Fat Bill
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 10:32 a.m.
All MISS DIG can do is mark the gas lines. Most of the time, the crews know the line is there, but they often work too close to the line with power equipment before switching over to shovel work.
sandy schopbach
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.
Should have called Miss Dig! Twice in such a short time is not acceptable from professionals. I hope the rest of their construction job isn't that shoddy.
CR
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 12:45 p.m.
Again, just like last time the gas line was hit. This work has nothing to do with the new City Hall project. This work crew is of the Street Scapes project. Please scoop the story correctly.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 12:02 p.m.
hasn't there been a number of these in that area lately?!?!? is this all around the new fire/pd/ann arbor government building? call miss dig.
mpharmd98
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
I work across Huron from the Hands-on museum - can you tell my boss to send us home?