The Valley Transportation Authority has resumed normal service Saturday on six lines that were rerouted due to a gas leak Friday that prompted evacuations and a shelter-in-place order to thousands of people in downtown San Jose, officials said.
Fire crews evacuated workers from buildings in the area of the leak at 1 S. Market St. after it was reported at 11:07 a.m. Friday, according to fire officials.
About 2,500 people were evacuated from office buildings on a two-block area of Market, First and San Pedro streets and the 2,500 people who were told to shelter in place were allowed to go home, San Jose fire Capt. Mike Van Elgort said.
PG&E crews dug into the roadway at the intersection of South Market and West Santa Clara streets to repair the leaking natural gas pipe using a "safety cage" to hold up the sides of the trench and underground wiring there, Van Elgort said.
Crews were able to stop the flammable gas leak from a pipe at the intersection around 5 p.m. Friday, he said.
Fire and hazardous materials crews remained at the scene to investigate possible pockets of gas trapped in nearby buildings throughout the night, according to Van Elgort.
Until the tests are completed, no one will be allowed to access the buildings, which mostly house offices with daytime hours.
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According to PG&E, a non-utility construction crew was using digging equipment Friday morning when it ruptured the 4-inch pipe and gas started to escape.
Traffic was diverted from Santa Clara Street to as far south as Park Avenue to other routes, Van Elgort said.
The Valley Transportation Authority Downtown Customer Service Center was among the evacuated buildings.
Bus lines 22, 522, 68, 17, 168 and 181 were rerouted but returned to normal service as of about 11:15 a.m. Saturday, VTA officials said.
