AUSTIN (KXAN) — Construction crews working on the new Hotel ZaZa in downtown Austin struck a gas line Monday afternoon forcing the closure of nearby streets.

The Austin Fire Department says they responded to the 400 block of Lavaca Street around 12:40 p.m. for a 2-inch service gas line that was damaged. While AFD crews continue monitoring the gas levels, a nearby sidewalk and the intersection are closed to traffic as a precautionary measure.

While the gas line has been capped but they are still working to release the gas that is trapped underneath the construction site. A spokesperson with AFD says crews are working to ventilate some utility tunnels.

At 5:50 p.m., Texas Gas Service said all repairs are complete and the road will reopen by 6:30 p.m.

This wasn’t the only emergency situation in downtown Austin that kept firefighters busy. An underground electrical fire near 10th and San Jacinto Boulevard forced the evacuation of the JJ Pickle Federal Building.

Fire crews checking gas levels at a gas leak at Fourth and Lavaca Streets. (KXAN Photo/Tom Rapp)