NORFOLK - A gas leak briefly forced the evacuation of some businesses in downtown Norfolk.
Fire officials were called to E. Main Street and Atlantic Street around 9:30 a.m. after construction crews working on the library renovation hit a 2.5 inch gas line.
Office and commercial buildings in a one-block area, including the Main Street garage and Main Street tower, were evacuated as a precaution.
By 10:30 a.m., people were allowed back. Firefighters went floor to floor checking air quality to make sure it was safe, said Capt. Mike Hicks.
Traffic remained blocked on Atlantic Street at 10:20 a.m.; the Tide light rail service was briefly stopped.
"The gas leak resulted in a westbound train being delayed by 4 minutes and an eastbound train by one minute," said HRT spokesman Tom Holden.
Virginia Natural Gas officials expected to have repairs made by 11:30 a.m.
