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[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=26965

Gas lines cut near Joy School

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - Traffic was snarled around Joy Elementary School for several hours Tuesday when repairs had to be made to two gas lines that were accidentally cut along Coolspring Avenue.

NIPSCO spokesman Nick Meyer said a contractor working on the Coolspring Avenue construction project first sliced through a 2-inch gas line around 10 a.m. Shortly afterward, when NIPSCO crews were there to shut off service to that main, the contractor's equipment cut through a 6-inch gas main nearby.

Police were called out to direct traffic around the repairs.

Joy students were not sent home, but they did stay inside for the rest of the day while repair work was being done, said Betsy Kohn, director of communications for Michigan City Area Schools.

"NIPSCO and the fire deparment came out to do air quality tests, and there was not determined to be a risk," she said.

Parents were asked to pick up their children in the schools' Transportation Services parking lot, a short walk from the school, Kohn said, and all afternoon activities were canceled at Joy due to traffic concerns. Everything should be back to normal when school resumes Thursday.

NIPSCO received dozens of phone calls from concerned residents about the smell of gas in the air throughout the day, as far out as Marquette Mall, Meyer said.

Its not uncommon to hear of gas lines accidently being cut during construction projects, he said.

"A lot of times construction companies are working with large equipment in exposed areas and it's difficult to maneuver," Meyer said.

Although Meyer didn't know if the contractor had called beforehand to check where underground pipes were located, he said anyone who digs underground for any kind of project is encouraged to check with the city or call 811, a national hotline, 48 hours beforehand to determine where gas, water and sewer lines are.

Gas service was shut off to Joy school and three other customers in the area until late Tuesday to make sure everyone was safe while the problem is fixed, Meyer said.