EAST LYME — A contractor struck a gas main Friday morning in East Lyme, forcing evacuations of several businesses along Flanders Road and bringing hazardous materials teams to the scene.
The incident occurred around 7:33 a.m. at 339 Flanders Road, prompting a response from East Lyme fire and police departments. Eversource Gas secured the leak by 8:14 a.m., according to emergency radio traffic.
Authorities evacuated The Shack, Liberty Bank and Flanders Doughnuts as a precaution. Police closed Flanders Road near Ace True Value and requested assistance from Waterford police to shut down Boston Post Road, diverting traffic onto the highway.
The Connecticut Eastern Regional Response Integrated Team was activated, bringing hazardous materials specialists from the Naval Submarine Base, New London, Electric Boat, Norwich, Mohegan Tribal, Mashantucket Pequot and UConn fire departments.
Fire crews from multiple departments established water supply lines but were instructed by Eversource not to flow water while the gas leak was active.
The road from Flanders Four Corners to Frontage Road remained closed for an extended period.
