I-94 in NW Indiana reopens after gas leak shut down all lanes

CHICAGO - A gas leak forced the closure of Interstate 94 in both directions near Portage on Tuesday, according to Indiana State Police. The highway has since reopened.

Sgt. Glen Fifield said the leak occurred near Bass Pro Shop and State Road 249, prompting the closure around 12:40 p.m. Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) estimated it would take at least three hours to secure the area.

I-94 was shut down as crews worked to repair the damaged gas line and contain the leak. Officials advised motorists to seek alternative routes during the closure.

By 6:20 p.m., Sgt. Fifield announced that all eastbound and westbound lanes of I-94 had been reopened.

It was not immediately clear what caused the damage to the gas line. NIPSCO released the following statement Tuesday night:

"Earlier this afternoon, NIPSCO crews responded to a third-party damage to our gas line at 6750 Daniel Burnham Dr. in Portage, Indiana. Gas flow to the damaged section of pipe has now been terminated successfully, and traffic is moving once again. Our crews have begun making repairs to the damaged section of pipe. We’d like to thank the community for their patience during this incident."