Emergency services reacted quickly this week to close the old Dublin Road in Mullingar after contractors accidently severed a gas line on Monday morning, May 17.
Fears for an evacuation of residents in the vicinity were quickly allayed after an initial assessment by the Fire Service, Bord Gais engineers, and gardai at the site of the incident between Westmeath Motors and the entrance to the Glenmore Wood estate.
A notice to the residents to keep windows shut was deemed sufficient precaution, as gardai closed the road from the Dublin bridge to the entrance to Petitswood Manor between 11.30am and 6pm, causing minor traffic disruptions.
At around five metres from the breach, the leak was both audible as well as smellable, but was too diluted in the atmosphere to be of any danger to the repair crew and attendant firefighters, let alone residents further back.
The incident occurred around 11am after a crew of Bord Gais contractors carrying out routine maintenance at the site accidently breached the main. An internal Bord Gais enquiry is in place.
“We always investigate third party hits,” said a spokesperson for Bord Gais.
According to the company, the reason for the length of repair and consequent road closure was due to the unfortunate siting of the breach, where the 180mm (7in ) polyethylene distribution line pipe divided into three and a “bypass had to be installed to maintain uninterrupted supply to the area” before repairs could be completed at the breach.
“We regret any inconvenience to the people of Mullingar,” said the spokesperson.
