COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Atlanta Gas Light crews worked late Wednesday night to repair a gas main break next to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.
Construction crews hit a gas main near the hospital, and several busy streets nearby were shut down. Channel 2 Action News used exclusive mapping technology and NewsChopper 2 to show you the closures on Channel 2 Action News at 5.
Officials told us ambulances en route to the busiest emergency room in the state were being rerouted around the closed streets. Also, patients in part of the hospital were relocated.
"One person said it was about 30 minutes of driving around," said Randall Smith. He owns the Symphony of Toys store about a block away off Cherokee Street.
He said he had customers getting rerouted because of all the road closures.
The leak was contained and the break fixed just before 11 p.m., and hospital staff said patients are back in their rooms and operations have returned to normal.
Monday 5:49 p.m.
Church Street is expected to reopen in a few minutes.
Right now: Gas line leak has been contained. The leak was next to Kennestone’s new ER that’s under construction on Church St. The road will reopen in a few minutes. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/fWij056uEP
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 1, 2019
5:09 p.m.
Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose has learned the gas leak is contained.
#BREAKING Kennestone officials say gas leak has been contained. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/WVdAC4RFn1
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 1, 2019
4:52 p.m.
Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose just reported it could be another 90 minutes before the gas line is contained.
Standing by for a Kennestone Hospital gas line break update. I’m told it could be another 90 mins until broken gas line is contained. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/Lz4grvteMo
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 1, 2019
4:46 p.m.
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Happening Now:
— Cobb County Fire (@cobbcountyfire) May 1, 2019
Cobb Fire assisting Marietta Fire with evacuations of the Green Tower at Kennestone Hospital due to a gas leak. No injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/oOQT6FETjH
4:36 p.m.
Two additional buildings are being evacuated. Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose said they're buildings on Witcher Street and they both have doctor's offices.
#BREAKING Two additional buildings evacuated on Witcher Street. 55 & 61 Witcher. The buildings have doctors offices. pic.twitter.com/v12cWHz7dc
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 1, 2019
4:32 p.m.
"There is a distinct smell of gas in the air," Jose said moments ago on Channel 2 Action News.
4:29 p.m.
Traffic in the area of Cherokee Street is a mess. NewsChopper 2 is in the air to help guide you around the mess. WATCH Channel 2 Action News RIGHT NOW for updates.
Here’s a look at the traffic jam on Cherokee Street near Kennestone. Traffic is already a mess due to a broken gas line. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/DcBk2UoMEa
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 1, 2019
4:26 p.m.
Ambulances en route to the emergency room are impacted.
#BREAKING Here’s a campus map of Kennestone. Green Tower is under evacuation due to broken gas line at a construction site. Per map, the Green Tower is home to the current ER, Pediatric ER, pharmacy, and admissions. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/X3HJsCdJHT
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 1, 2019
3:51 p.m.
Marietta police told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose that patients in the green tower of the hospital are being relocated. Officials said the hospital is still open.
#BREAKING Green Tower at Kennestone Hospital is under evacuation, per @MariettaPD. People are being relocated to other areas of the hospital. Church, Cherry and Witcher Streets are all closed due to a gas main break. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/bbyoGCqm0f
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 1, 2019
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