Massive Gas Leak Shuts Down I-94 In Portage For Several Hours

Source: Glen Fifield/Indiana State Police / Glen Fifield/Indiana State Police

PORTAGE, Ind. — A massive gas leak shut down traffic on I-94 in northern Indiana on Tuesday.

Indiana State Police were called in to shut down the major traffic artery in both directions between Portage and Burns Harber after it was discovered that gas was leaking from underground pipes near a Bass Pro Shops along US 20.

NIPSCO, which owns the gas line, said a contractor unaffiliated with the utility company was doing work along the busy interstate Tuesday afternoon when they ruptured the gas line at around 12:30 CDT. It caused lots of pressurized and flammable natural gas to spew into the air carrying dust and rocks with it.

Many nearby businesses had to be evacuated as a precaution as just one little spark could have caused an explosion or a massive fire.

The shutdown of the interstate caused heavy disruptions to people’s commutes leading to gridlock on both the highway and on many side streets as traffic was diverted off the interstate.

Troopers say NIPSCO workers came in and it took them about six hours to cap the leak. The interstate was quickly reopened right around 6:15 CDT.

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