AUSTIN, Texas — A gas leak near Lake Travis has been repaired, but road closures are persisting in the area as crews still work to fix a damaged gas line.
The leak began on Friday morning when construction crews hit an 8-inch gas line in the 6400 block of Ranch Road 620. The leak caused the closure of northbound lanes in the 6400 block of Ranch Road 620, causing traffic to be rerouted around the intersection of RM 2222 and FM 620 via the 2222 bypass.
Just after 4 p.m., equipment and crews began digging to mitigate the leak and damaged pipe.
Just before 7:30 p.m. Friday, crews with TxDOT were on site, directing traffic and assisting in the efforts to fix the broken line. Texas Gas took the lead on repair efforts just after 8 p.m., with LTFR remaining at the scene to assist with safety measures.
At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, LTFR said Texas Gas Service crews had repaired the leak by installing a bypass line, but said, "There is still much work to be done."
Southbound lanes of 620 at the 2222 intersection reopened Saturday evening, but the northbound lanes remain closed as repairs are still ongoing.
As of Sunday at 4 p.m., the northbound lanes of RM 620 remained closed just north of the bypass road as crews continued to make repairs to the gas line, per TxDOT.
As of Monday afternoon, FM 620 was open in both directions, but intermittent road closures were in place for the FM 620/RM 2222 bypass.
Classes canceled
Due to traffic issues related to the gas line repair, Leander ISD canceled classes in the Vandegrift High School feeder pattern on Monday. That includes Grandview Hills Elementary, Laura W. Bush Elementary, River Place Elementary, River Ridge Elementary, Steiner Ranch Elementary, Canyon Ridge Middle School, Four Points Middle School and Vandegrift High School.
In an update on Monday afternoon, Leander ISD said practices and rehearsals will resume on campuses as long as teams are complying with UIL rules and other guidelines. Campus coaches and directors will communicate specific updated plans for the teams and programs.
Schools will resume a normal schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Leander ISD said.
How businesses were impacted
Ivan Cruise is one of the owners of Rock House Bar, which is located on Ranch Road 620 north, near where the gas line was struck.
Cruise said he heard about the gas leak at around 12 p.m. through callers, and by 4 p.m., he began to notice the impacts as people couldn't get to the bar due to the flood of traffic.
At some point, he made the decision to close the bar.
"It killed our business entirely, like Fridays and Saturdays are our two busiest days," said Cruise. "And even if I stay open tonight, I'll be happy if I can even get - make 20% of my normal revenue."
Cruise thinks there was a lack of transparency and updates from crews.
”This little building pays a lot of money and the common courtesy would have been at least somebody come up here and explain to us what was going on," said Cruise, "It completely shifted everybody's life for a day or two."
Other businesses along the road also appeared to be closed Saturday evening as a result of the gas leak.