WESTFORD — A portion of Groton Road (Route 40) between 527 Groton Rd. (the Ace Hardware Plaza) and the Chelmsford town line was shut down Monday morning due to a gas leak near Commerce Way, the Westford Police Department announced.
Shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, the Westford Fire Department responded to a report of a gas leak near the intersection of Groton Road and Commerce Way.
Firefighters at the scene located the ruptured gas main near Fletcher Granite, and immediately shut down the road while they worked to contain the leak.
National Grid was then called to the scene to shut off the gas main and repair the leak.
Meanwhile, police officers shut down both sides of stretch of the road, redirecting traffic around the area, while urging residents to stay away from the area and seek alternate routes while National Grid repaired the leak.
WestfordCAT was at the scene and reported a strong smell of gas.
A Westford Fire EMS ambulance was also spotted at the scene, but Westford Fire Chief Mike Denehy said no one was taken to the hospital as a result of the leak.
Just after 12:30 p.m., officers said National Grid shut off the gas main and shortly before 1 p.m., officers said the road was reopened. Officers said National Grid was continuing to work alongside the road to repair the gas main, so drivers were advised to be cautious when passing through the Groton Road and Commerce Way intersection.
National Grid later told WestfordCAT the gas main ruptured after it was hit by another object.
The incident marks the second time in just over a month that a gas main ruptured and leaked near Groton Road, as firefighters, police and National Grid responded to a gas leak at 535 Groton Rd. on Sept. 12.
