By Brendan Rees
A gas leak, which closed a major thoroughfare, was caused by excavator that raptured a pipeline while it was drilling at a new estate site in Cranbourne South.
Firefighters from Cranbourne and Langwarrin were called to Cranbourne-Frankston Road just before 11.30am on Tuesday 12 May.
According to crew leader Craig Aiton of Langwarrin CFA brigade, the excavator had struck a gas main in a three-metre deep roadside pit.
“There was a team drilling and boring into the roadside laying water pipes for a new estate and they drilled through a disused (pipe) what they call a service main,” he said.
As a precaution, police closed all east bound traffic on Cranbourne-Frankston Road between the Western Port Highway and Pearcedale Road for nearly four-and-a-half hours – as traffic was diverted to Browns Road, North Road and Hall Road.
The closure impacted peak hour while repairs were carried out by a gas company before the road reopened just before 5.40pm.
Firefighters were on scene until 12.50pm to ensure the scene was safe. No injuries were reported.
Mr Aiton said it was believed the excavator had been undertaking drilling works opposite Woodlands Drive when the pipeline was raptured.
“They’re building a new housing estate right next door … it was a gas line that went to an old farm house.
“The guys had no idea it was there unfortunately.”
CFA issued a hazardous material alert to the public at the time of the gas leak.
The message said there had been no threat to the community and advised people to stay informed and monitor conditions.
