Gas Leak Monday Affected No Customers

Jefferson Cocke County Utility District says the natural gas leak that occured Monday monring in Newport did not affect any customers as that pipe is used as a backup. The gas leak occured after someone set a fire under the North Street bridge which led to the steel casing around the PVC pipe being damaged. JCCUD says that pipe is valved off and repairs will be made in the future to return that pipe to backup status.

AT&T had phone lines running under the bridge as well. The incident snarled traffic downtown Monday morning as the North Street Bridge had to be closed while the leak was isolated and shut off.