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I-35 reopens five hours after gas link break near Liberty

South-bond traffic on I-35 was re-routed at the exit ramp to Highway 152 in Liberty Monday morning after a gas leak was discovered near I-35 and Pleasant Valley Road.
South-bond traffic on I-35 was re-routed at the exit ramp to Highway 152 in Liberty Monday morning after a gas leak was discovered near I-35 and Pleasant Valley Road. RICH SUGG rsugg@kcstar.com

A long stretch of Interstate 35 in Clay County reopened about 1:15 p.m. Monday after a gas line break closed the interstate in both directions for more than four hours.

Police and state highway workers shut down Interstate 35 in both directions between Interstate 435 and Missouri 152 near Liberty because of the gas line break in Pleasant Valley.

A contractor tore the 12-inch steel pipeline about 8:20 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Road and Interstate 35, said Jenny Gobble, a spokeswoman for Missouri Gas Energy. The 18-inch tear, which did not cut off gas to any customers, spewed gas into the air next to the interstate.

MGE crews had to research the best ways to shut down valves in the area to impact the fewest customers, Gobble said. After shutting the valves, crews could repair the pipeline.

The Star

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 9:33 AM.

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