AUSTIN, Texas — A construction crew damaged a natural gas pipeline near the Tesla Gigafactory Wednesday morning.
The Austin Fire Department (AFD) said at 9:51 a.m. that crews were responding to a "hazardous materials incident" in the 13000 block of Tesla Road, near where the electric vehicle company's headquarters is located.
At 10:11 a.m., AFD said the immediate area was being evacuated as a precaution, and an isolation zone had been set up to ensure the safety of everyone working nearby.
Atmos Energy confirmed that a construction crew working at 1 Tesla Road damaged a natural gas pipeline, leading the AFD to issue the precautionary evacuation of a cooling station in the area. However, an evacuation was not issued for the Gigafactory.
Atmos said its technicians remain on the scene to make the necessary repairs. Drivers should expect traffic in the area and should seek an alternate route.
No additional information is available at this time.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.