Auckland traffic: CBD gas leak closes part of Lower Albert St

A gas leak has forced the closure of a central Auckland street as rush hour approaches.

Lower Albert St, between Custom St and Quay St in the city center, closed shortly after 3.13pm, when emergency services were called to the area.

Northern New Zealand Fire & Emergency Shift Manager Daniel Nicholson says a worker struck a pipe and caused a gas leak.

“We are there with Vector, maintaining the area and making sure it is safe,” Nicholson said.

“There are three trucks that use hoses to

control gas. “

There have been no reports of injuries from evacuations, Nicholson said.

Motorists were warned to avoid the area and expect delays.

A spokesperson for Auckland Transport says some bus services were affected outside the Commercial Bay shopping precinct.

“There isn’t a lot of traffic there right now, I think it’s a bus-only lane so a couple of bus services stop at an earlier stop,” he said.

Auckland Transport says buses 95 and 97 will start and end at stop 7036 on Fanshawe St near Victoria Park.

Bus passengers should use the NX1 services from the center to connect to services 95 and 97 at stop 7036.

Meanwhile, a fault on the Britomart tunnel track forced the Onehunga train to be canceled from the station tonight.

A rail transport service will operate between Onehunga and Penrose for passengers, however additional trains east between Britomart and Panmure have been canceled, AT says.