GENESEO, Ill. — UPDATE: The residents who had evacuated were allowed to return home Tuesday evening.
The Geneseo Police Department said residents were asked to have their home checked for residual gas before going inside. The police, fire and NICOR workers were doing the checks.
Oakwood Avenue remained closed for repairs.
ORIGINAL: A natural gas leak prompted the evacuation of residents in a Geneseo neighborhood on Tuesday, afternoon, June 29.
An underground boring company hit a buried gas main while they were installing new equipment in the 500 block of South Oakwood Avenue, according to Geneseo Deputy Police Chief, Gene Karzin. Natural gas was detected several hundred feet from the site.
"Those who need to evacuate have been notified," said a statement from the Geneseo Police Department, on their Facebook page.
Oakwood Avenue and Spring Street between Locust Street and Main Street will be closed until further notice, said Karzin.
Police said Nicor Gas was at the scene around 12:30 p.m. They remained on site to repair the damage and restore service.
Once the leak is contained, workers will check the residences in the area and then residents will be able to go home.