Gas Main Break Causes Laurel Ave Closure; Some Residents Evacuated

A gas main break at Laurel Avenue and Satinwood Dr. on Monday morning necessitated broad road closures in the area and a large response from area police and fire departments. 

The break of an unmarked 2 1/2 main was hit by the JF Kiely construction crew working on the ongoing New Jersey Natural Gas pipe replacement/installation project, was reported at 9:58 a.m, said Lt. Michael Smith of the Holmdel Police Dept. Police responded within three minutes, he said. 

Some residents living in Laurel Greene, a Middletown development, were asked to evacuate their homes. The incident occurred near the Beau Ridge Development, on the Holmdel side of Laurel Avenue, but those residents were not evacuated.

There odor associated with natural gas was in the breeze at the nearby AT&T complex, off Laurel Avenue, in Middletown.  

Nearby roads were closed, including access to the area from Takolusa and Holland Road. There was a "soft closure" at Route 35, to permit local residents to access their homes. 

Responding were police from Holmdel and Middletown departments; Holmdel Fire & Resuce Company #2, Middletown Fire Company, North Centerville Fire Company and two Holmdel First Aid rigs.