T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON STROUGH Crews work on repairing a ruptured gas line after an accident Thursday. Roads around the site were closed while the work continued.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A gas line rupture near the Ohio Valley Mall disrupted traffic in the area as repair work continued through the day.

Cumberland Trail Fire Chief Tim Hall said his department was called to respond shortly after 9 a.m.

“We had received a call at the intersection of Mall Road and where the on and off ramps for I-70 eastbound to the 18-mile-marker that there was a gas line rupture. When our first engine arrived on scene, they were met by a contractor that was digging in the area, and we believe that’s how the gas line was struck,” Hall said.

“It was an 8-inch gas line that feeds the Ohio Valley Mall. We immediately shut down the on and off ramps to I-70 at that location and Mall Road and Mall Ring Road for the safety of travelers and their vehicles, and then made sure that those in nearby restaurants were staying indoors, and as they exited those establishments we made sure we directed them away from the gas leak,” he said.

“We wanted to make sure there was no ignition source around that area, or anything that could cause any type of ignition of the gas as it was coming out of the line,” Hall said, adding that no homes had to be evacuated.

“Columbia Gas responded immediately and assisted us,” Hall said.

He added that the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Richland Township Police and the Ohio Department of Transportation also assisted by placing barricades and signage so motorists did not travel through the area.

“Isolate the roadways until Columbia Gas could isolate and correct the issue,” Hall said.

He said repairs were still going on during the afternoon.

“They just told us it would be an extended period of time. That’s why we had ODOT come out and put up temporary barriers,” Hall said.

“We have a third-party contractor that has damaged one of our gas lines,” Erica Chronaberry, spokeswoman for Columbia Gas, said. “Crews are heading there (close to 2:30 p.m.) to make the situation safe, unfortunately both the on- and off-ramps of I-70 are closed at this time, and so is the intersection in front of the Bob Evans. … Once repairs are made, we’ll work as quickly as possible to get those roads back open, and they hope to have everything done and the roads open later (Thursday) evening.”

She said there were no safety concerns while the work continues.

“We just ask (the public) to be patient. We’ll work as safely and as quickly as possible to get those roads back open again,” she said.

Joe Bell, spokesman for the Ohio Valley Mall’s parent the Cafaro Co., said the leak had no major impact on mall operations.

“We still have gas service, but I believe they shut down Bob Evans, just as a precaution,” he said. “We didn’t have to do anything extraordinary. Police and fire officials blocked off the affected area. … We have a looped gas service. Basically if one section of it fails, there’s an alternate circuit that it can take. … I want to stress that the mall and its businesses are open. There may be some delay near the entrance where the gas break happened.”

“Traffic seems to be going fine at that location. Of course we do have the ramps shut down, however folks are able to detour via I-70 eastbound to exit 219 to get back to U.S. 40 and then to Mall Road,” ODOT spokeswoman Lauren Borell. “Those who need to get onto I-70 from the Mall Road area then can of course use Banfield Road, but at this time we don’t have reports of any significant backups at this location.”

Tyler Bass, shift leader at Bob Evans, said the restaurant closed in the interest of safety and was expected to be open for business Friday.