Crews working to restore gas, power in Lawrence after leak

LAWRENCE, Mass. — Remaining evacuees are being allowed back into their homes in the Lawrence area on Saturday night after crews worked to restore service to homes and businesses affected by Friday morning's gas leak.

The leak came about two weeks after the one-year anniversary of the Merrimack Valley gas explosions.

And while it will be the first night all of the evacuated families will get to sleep in their beds, fear is still alive in those neighborhoods.

"It's just still scary," said Amy Soltan. "It's been scary for the past year.

"I'm still scared. I don't know what's going to happen next, I don't know whether to keep my gas on every night after I cook. I don't know whether to wake up in the middle of the night to walk around my house, to check to see if everything is ok. I can't get a peaceful sleep."

Around 3 a.m. Friday, reports first came in of a gas odor at South Broadway and Salem Streets in Lawrence. Columbia Gas crews responded, confirmed there was a leak and shut off electricity.

"The city, I know the Governor's office and DPU have been holding Columbia gas feet to the fire," said Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera. "No one’s been more critical of Columbia gas than me."

But blame isn't all falling on Columbia Gas this time. Early investigations show that contractors working for Lawrence were checking water valves in preparation for road paving when they inadvertently closed a gas valve, which punctured an active gas main.

"For all of us it was a big deal," said Gov. Charlie Baker. "It’s a big deal. And it’s a big deal because it sits in the context of what happened last year."

Columbia Gas says the gas valve that was closed Friday should have been disabled as part of pipeline reconstruction in 2018.

“If they had somebody on the ground watching, digging how they should be, paying attention, 100% this would have not happened,” said evacuee Anthony Mendez.

Families on South Broadway and Carver Street are now able to access their homes and businesses for the first time. Columbia Gas is keeping the streets closed and working to restore service to 150 customers still without it.

Related stories:
>> Displaced residents staying in hotel rooms following early morning gas leak

>> Lawrence gas leak: 'Columbia Gas has blown me up again'

>> Lawrence gas leak: City officials confirm human error caused gas leak

Cox Media Group