Underground Gas Line Struck Along Shelby Avenue (UPDATE)

An underground boring machine has struck a gas line at Shelby and Maple. Travel in that portion of town has been shut down since 10:30am. 

Effingham Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza said it appears that all of the lines that were known to be in that area were properly marked, so it appears the line that was struck was unknown to the locators.

The situation has led emergency services personnel to close Maple Street from Fayette to Jefferson Avenues, all of Shelby Avenue, east and west from Maple, and the drive-thru at Dieterich Bank's location at Fayette and Maple.

Kulesza said it will likely be between 4pm and 5pm before the situation is corrected. He said the gas has been located and shut off. The roads were still closed as of 3pm until all patchwork to the pipes and the roadways are corrected.