Commercial Gas Leak Shuts Down Route 79 Corridor in Morganville

A gas leak has shut down a portion of the Route 79 corridor in Morganville, from Lloyd Road to Tennent road.

Reported at approximately 8 a.m., the leak is due to commercial digging by a backhoe at the CVS Pharmacy construction site, after a contractor hit a main gas line at the shopping plaza next door.

Residents in nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution around 8:30 a.m. and allowed around 10 a.m. The gas lines were capped around 10 a.m., but the roadway remains shut down.

Police have shut down Route 79 at Tennent Road and Lloyd Road.

NJ Natural Gas is on the scene completely repairing the gas line, Mennona said the roadways will be a "little bit of a mess for a while."