Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 5/13/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ma Mount Pleasant Firefighters responded to a gas leak on Washington Street Monday afternoon. The incident took place between Clayton and Bellows after a 4-inch gas pipe was struck during the reconstruction of Washington Street. [Click to enlarge]

Less than a week into the complete reconstruction of Washington Street, five homes were evacuated when workers hit a 4-inch gasline after 1 p.m. Monday.

Sgt. Rick Beltrick of the Mount Pleasant Fire Department said his crew arrived at the corner of Washington and Bellows Streets at approximately 1:30 p.m. for precautionary measures.

Beltrick asked students and residents of the five homes to evacuate the buildings until the pipe was back to normal.

The smell of natural gas lingered around the area for more than 30 minutes as the pipe was repaired underneath the roadway.

The line was repaired in about two hours and residents were able to return to their homes later in the afternoon.



Built on clay

Jonathan Kobylas will not be missing the Washington Street potholes anytime soon.

"It was like driving on the moon," the Yale junior said. "It was a terrible street to drive on."

Kobylas and other Mount Pleasant residents fortunately won't have to deal with the street's potholes for long.

Malley Construction started repairing the roadway May 4 and it is scheduled to be done by Aug. 8. The project is divided in two parts and workers are currently in the first phase.

"Phase one is to provide a base course of asphalt from High to Bellows, and phase two will move construction from Bellows to Preston," said Director of Public Works Duane Ellis.

The project's goal is to provide Mount Pleasant with the best possible roads and Washington Street was among those that needed improvements.

"Washington Street is a major street and we want to keep it in the best shape we can," Ellis said. "We've done Preston to Broomfield for the last few years. Now this is the last section left to do."

Continued...

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