A major highway in North Central Florida was temporarily closed and businesses were evacuated after a contractor, utilizing Horizontal Directional Drills, inadvertently damaged a gas line.

Despite the gas line being mismarked, the contractor faced criticism for persisting with construction in the same location after the initial incident, prompting the gas company to emphasize the need for a halt in excavation activities upon such incidents as per Florida regulations.

One of the busiest highways in North Central Florida was shut down and many businesses were evacuated when a contractor using Horizontal Directional Drills damaged a gas line.

After damaging the gas line, the contractor reported the incident and relocated away from the location of the strike, but later, struck the line again. 

The gas line was mismarked, but the contractor was blamed for continuing the work in the same location after the first accident. 

A gas company official said that the contractor should have terminated all construction activities following the first accident until the accident was investigated and the exact location of the gas line found. 

The company claimed that according to the Florida’s regulations, an excavator who comes in contact with an underground facility must stop digging. 

The marking was reported to be about 15 foot away from the gas line's actual location.

Cause: Repeated damage by HDD work 

Damage: Highway and businesses shut down 

Injuries: None

Natural gas lines, Locating/marking inaccurate