MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) -
The California Highway Patrol says a portion of Highway 99 in Madera County that was closed Friday due to a gas leak is back open.
Both directions of the highway between Avenue 9 and Avenue 12 were shut down for more than five hours.
Madera County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Erica Stuart said the leak started when some type of heavy machinery cut a 12-inch gas line along Cottonwood Creek south of the Avenue 12 overpass around 9:45 a.m.
Crews were able to stop the leak a few hours later.
People in 15 homes, several businesses and a daycare center within a half-mile radius were evacuated as a precaution.
Stuart said no injuries have been reported.
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