photo by: Kim Callahan

Workers begin repairs on a gas line at the intersection of 19th and Kentucky streets after a significant leak was reported in the area, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018.

Story last updated at 7 p.m. Sept. 13.

A significant gas leak Thursday morning in the area of 19th and Kentucky streets caused emergency crews to temporarily close roads and evacuate residents.

The leak was reported shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, according to emergency radio traffic, and a strong smell of gas was present in the neighborhood.

Traffic was blocked for about 90 minutes along 19th Street between Vermont and Tennessee streets. Crews reopened the roads shortly before noon.

The leak was on a Black Hills Energy gas line at the corner of 19th and Kentucky streets, according to information provided via email by Black Hills Lawrence operations supervisor David Bellinder. Bellinder said a third-party contractor hit the line, causing the leak.

photo by: Kim Callahan

Lawrence Douglas-County Fire and Medical vehicles block a portion of 19th Street near Kentucky street after a gas leak was reported in the area, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018.

Black Hills spokesperson Monique Pope said that the third-party contractor that punctured the gas line had called to have the line located prior to digging, but that the line had been struck by accident. She said whether the contractor would be assessed any penalty would be up to the Kansas Corporation Commission. When asked who the contractor was, Pope said Black Hills typically declines to identify contractors in such situations.

Cordley Elementary School, 1837 Vermont St., evacuated the building at the suggestion of the fire department, district spokeswoman Julie Boyle said in an email. Most students and staff walked east to Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, 1400 Massachusetts St., and staff drove others, Boyle said.

Although students were safe and were expected to return to the elementary school, families of students had been notified and were allowed to pick up children at the middle school, Boyle said. While they waited for an all-clear, the elementary school students ate lunch at the middle school, Boyle said. As of 12:20 p.m., Cordley had been cleared by the fire department and gas company, and students were boarding buses for a return to the school, Boyle said.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Shift Commander Lyle Schwartz said all houses within a few blocks of the area were evacuated. A firefighter on the scene told a Journal-World reporter that about 500 people had been evacuated.

photo by: Kim Callahan

Lawrence Douglas-County Fire and Medical vehicles block a portion of 19th Street near Cordley Elementary, 1837 Vermont St., after a gas leak was reported in the area, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018.

Brooke Barney, who lives near the intersection of 19th and Kentucky, said firefighters told her she couldn’t return to her home for at least 30 minutes because of a “major gas leak.”

To the north, at Birchwood Gardens apartments, 1815 Kentucky St., resident Melania Piedra said firefighters had gone door to door to evacuate residents.

“They just started banging on my door and said to get out,” Piedra said.

Pope said the gas line was turned off after the break, and about eight customers were without gas service Thursday afternoon, though she expected service to be restored the same day.