Repairs Continue Damaged Gas Main in Palos Heights

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — UPDATED 8:43 p.m. Residents evacuated near the intersection of Route 83/80th Avenue and Southwest Highway can now go home after a private contractor hit a gas main Wednesday morning.

Deputy Chief Bill Czajkowski, of the Palos Heights Police Department, told Patch that any danger has subsided.

Nicor crews remain at the scene doing repairs, which are expected to continue through the afternoon rush hour for the next four to six hours. Until then, homes and businesses in the area will not have gas service as repairs continue.

“We are working with first responders to secure the site and safely repair the damaged gas line,” Nicor spokeswoman Jennifer Golz said in an email to Patch. “As we assess our distribution system for damage, we may be required to interrupt gas service to nearby customers for safety purposes. We greatly appreciate your patience and will provide updates as the situation unfolds.”

The busy intersection sits on the Palos Heights-Palos Park border. Westbound Route 83 is closed to traffic at Southwest Highway. The southbound lanes of Southwest High will be partially closed at Route 83. Other street closures near the damaged gas line will open shortly.
Until then, motorists can use 111th Street, 131st Street, Harlem Avenue or LaGrange Road as an alternate route. To access Palos Hospital, use 123rd Street.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.