Major gas leak in Longueuil, Taschereau Boulevard partially closed

A major natural gas leak left thousands of homes without power and caused the closure of Taschereau Boulevard in Longueuil on Sunday morning.

The Longueuil agglomeration police service was able to confirm early this afternoon that it was a natural gas leak.

It is believed to have occurred a little before 9:15 a.m., near Boulevard Taschereau, at the level of Chemin du Coteau-Rouge.

As a preventive measure, the artery had been closed to traffic between Curé-Poirier Boulevard and the access to the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. The lanes have since been reopened towards Brossard only.

Several hours of work will be needed to plug the leak, said a police spokesman, François Boucher.

“We cannot determine at this time how long the operation will take,” he had warned a few hours earlier.

Most of the affected Hydro-Québec customers had their power restored by early afternoon. Around 2 p.m., fewer than 500 customers were still waiting to be reconnected.

No injuries were reported.

With the ramp leading from Taschereau Boulevard to the Jacques-Cartier Bridge remaining inaccessible, the police department is asking the public to avoid the area. “We should expect traffic disruptions,” François Boucher said.