Hard questions are being asked of road workers after a major gas pipeline was severed yesterday, forcing the closure of Hewletts Rd and causing massive traffic delays.
Several businesses had to be evacuated and part of Tauranga airport was closed after a contractor working on the Hewletts Rd flyover project put
a hole in a steel pipeline at 1:10pm.
The hole was made with a grinder, near the intersection of Hewletts and Aerodrome roads.
Firefighters and police cordoned off the area and traffic was diverted down Newton St, Hull Rd and Totara St for 90 minutes while temporary repairs were made.
But traffic queues quickly built up on both sides of the harbour bridge, as gas swirled in the northerly breeze.
Access project director John Hannah said it was fortunate nobody was injured.
"This kind of incident could have had more serious consequences," he said.
Mr Hannah said Transit New Zealand staff would meet the project consultant and contractor today to look at what happened and determine what action was required.
The Natural Gas Corporation is also investigating.
Company spokesman Keith FitzPatrick said Corporation workers arrived soon after the damage to the intermediate pressure pipe was reported.
A gas workman fitted a clamp to the pipe as a temporary repair. A permanent repair is now being considered.
Mr FitzPatrick said the pipe carried the bulk of the gas to Mount Maunganui, but the gas supply to surrounding businesses was not affected while the repair was carried out.
"Using a grinder with a live pipeline is not a prudent thing to do," he said yesterday.
Tauranga senior station officer Phil Price said firefighters quickly cordoned off the hole where the contractor had been working and evacuated nearby businesses.
While the hole was being repaired, firefighters were on standby, ready to haul out the worker if needed.
The hazardous materials unit from the Mount Maunganui Fire Station was also on site.
"The danger was the breeze was causing the gas to swirl around and it could have endangered motorists," Mr Price said.
Tauranga Airport manager Ray Dumble said gliders were prevented from take-off for about 30 minutes until the gas flow was stemmed. "It was just a precautionary measure as the take-off path was directly over the gas leak," he said.
