Gas leak leads to closure of Interstate 94 in northwest Indiana

CHICAGO (CBS) — A major gas leak in northwest Indiana forced authorities to close a section of Interstate 94 for at least three hours Tuesday afternoon.

The Portage Fire Department was alerted to the gas leak in the Ameriplex complex north of I-94 near a Bass Pro Shops store.

Officials released a video of the gas leak, showing a visible cloud of gas rising into the air from a damaged underground gas pipeline.

I-94 was closed in both directions between Portage and Burns Harbor while NIPSCO crews checked the area for gas levels. The Indiana Department of Transportation said eastbound traffic was detoured to Indiana State Road 249 and westbound traffic was detoured to U.S. Route 20.

Indiana State Police said they had been informed that securing the gas leak would take at least three hours and that I-94 would remain closed for at least that long, if not longer.