Pleasant Hill Road, Ramps To I-85 Reopened, Gas Leak Fixed

DULUTH, GA – Update

The gas leak on Venture Drive and Pleasant Hill Road is now under control, Gwinnett Fire reports. Atlanta Gas Light was able to stop the leak at 4:16 p.m. All fire equipment has returned to service. The gas line ended up being a 2-inch feeder for one of the businesses and not an actual gas main. AGL was able to quickly cap the leak and bring the situation under control. Pleasant Hill Road was reopened at 4:29 p.m. and only one lane of Venture Drive remains closed to traffic. There were no evacuations and no injuries reported as a result of the gas leak.

Original story and update:

Authorities have announced that Pleasant Hill Road is closed between Satellite Blvd. and Breckinridge Blvd/Shackelford Rd due to a natural gas leak. The northbound and southbound exit ramps to Pleasant Hill from Interstate 85 are also closed. Alternate routes are necessary. There are no injuries reported thus far.

Firefighters are currently on the scene of the natural gas leak outside on Venture Drive, NW and Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. A utility crew struck a 2-inch gas main while digging near the roadway.

Per the incident commander, there are no actual evacuations, however, people in several businesses are being sheltered-in-place at this time. Hazmat is monitoring gas readings in the area and firefighters have a hose line on the ground to protect gas company workers and nearby exposures. Jackson EMC has been requested to disconnect overhead power lines to eliminate potential ignition sources for the escaping gas. Pleasant Hill Road is closed in both directions between Gwinnett Place Drive and I-85. Venture Drive is also closed. An emergency crew from Atlanta Gas Light is on the scene and is working to stop the leak. They will not be able to dig until the power is disconnected. This will be a long-duration incident with an ETA of two-hours for mitigation.

Multiple Gwinnett Police units are handling traffic control and PD Air-1 is assessing traffic flow from above. Please see the attached map provided by the GCPD PIO. Motorists are asked to avoid the area until the situation is brought under control.

Equipment on the scene includes: one engine, one hazmat unit, one rehab unit and one battalion chief.

Stay tuned to Patch for further details as they develop.

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Graphic courtesy Gwinnett County