Now going into its 6th hour, drivers are being told to plan an alternate ride home as Route 61 remains closed between Frackville and St. Clair.
Around 7:45am, Tuesday, emergency personnel were called to the area of Route 61 and Darkwater Road for a report of a gas leak.
St. Clair fire personnel arrived on scene and confirmed a gas leak.
Fire police were requested to shut down the northbound lanes at the Walmart intersection in St. Clair and the southbound lanes at the mall ramp near Frackville. Darkwater Road is also being closed.
It was later revealed that work was being done on the Route 61 project when they struck a UGI Gas Line.
By noon time, Schuylkill Emergency Management reported that the road will be closed for an extended of time and afternoon commuters should plan alternate routes for their ride home if they use the Route 61 corridor.
As of 1:00pm, PPL was at the scene cutting power to the area and around 2:00pm, additional traffic control was arriving on scene to handle the extended road closure.
No details were available on how the road will be closed for.