An official with Yankee Gas said Route 34 at the intersection of North Avenue was expected to be open by 12 p.m.
(Note — Route 34 was opening as of 11:56 a.m., according to fire department radio dispatches).
Contractors working for United Illuminating have been doing underground utility work on Route 34/Roosevelt Drive in front of the building formerly home to Derby Cellular Products.
They called Yankee Gas Tuesday morning after smelling an odor of gas, said Yankee Gas spokesman Karen Samide.
Derby firefighters and crews from Yankee Gas responded to the scene. Firefighters metered nearby storm drains to see if the leak was widespread.
Workers eventually focused on the construction hole where the contractors were doing their work.
Samide said Yankee Gas discovered a crack in a 6‑inch underground gas line. They are still investigating how precisely the gas line was damaged.
Route 34 was shut down from A Street to Cemetery Avenue. Traffic was being diverted to Hawthorne Avenue.
Businesses next to the gas leak include the Dew Drop Inn, Apollo Pizza and IDA International.
Workers were not asked to leave those businesses, firefighters said.
Google map shows location of leak.
View Derby Gas Leak in a larger map
