Klaus construction workers strike natural gas pipeline

Workers struck a natural gas pipeline at the Klaus Computing Building construction site during the first day of spring semester classes, Monday, Jan. 9.

The rupture in the high-pressure, four-inch pipeline occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m., according to Captain Byron Kennedy of the Atlanta Fire - Rescue Department. He said the cause of the incident was a backhoe hitting the line during digging.

The leak persisted throughout the morning, forcing the evacuation of the Whitaker BME building across Ferst Street. According to the GTPD, and confirmed by Amelia Gambino, assistant vice president of Institute Communications and Public Affairs, the Whitaker building was the only evacuation. The order, however, was made by its building manager, Gambino said. Police required no building evacuations throughout the incident.

However, police lines set up from the intersection of Ferst and Atlantic and encompassing the stretch of Ferst almost as far east as the baseball field prevented most students from accessing classes in either the Whitaker or the Ford Environmental Science and Technology building.

The gas could be smelled from the ES&T building across the street from the leak, but, according to Kennedy, the wind direction made the only needed evacuation the Whitaker building.

Still, according to GTPD, students were expected to leave the area upon exiting class from the ES&T building. Classes were ongoing in the building throughout the morning, though several students crowded around the blockade at the intersection of Ferst and Atlantic were unable to attend.