UPDATE: As of 5:00pm pst the 6in pipe is still being fixed and power is working at WinCo Foods, The Moses Lake Town Center along with traffic lights around SR-17
— Downtown, Moses Lake, WA
A natural gas pipe was struck during a construction project earlier today. The gas leak has closed Stratford Rd and the W Valley Rd intersection.
Eyewitnesses reports state that gas smells could be smelled as far as Big 5 Sporting Goods and Walmart, along with power being shut off to all nearby traffic lights and stores and office buildings. Traffic is getting heavy around the Walmart and Big Lots parking lots as well as N Stratford rd and SR-17 near the Stratford Rd exit.
The 6in (15.24cm) gas line break was reported at about 9:15 a.m. pst near the intersection of Stratford and West Valley Road just in front of the Arby’s fast food restaurant. Stratford Road remains closed from W Valley Rd to the Walmart/Moses Lake Town Center intersection. Businesses located along N Stratford Rd were evacuated and are temporarily closed required by MLFD.
MLFD and Cascade Natural Gas are on scene and another crew from Yakima was reportedly called out to fix the gas leak. According to the MLFD and Cascade Natural Gas, the respires expected to take several hours into the day and will affect the evening commute.
Residents who live in the Knolls Vista neighborhood or Cascade Valley are advised to take a detour rout by taking Northbound SR-17 and SR-171 (W Broadway Ave).