A mistake made by some utility workers this morning in Towson led authorities to evacuate the Baltimore County Circuit Courthouse.
The leak occurred just before 10 a.m. when Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) workers on W. Chesapeake Avenue on the west side of the building accidentally split a gas main. The county fire department instructed everyone inside to leave the courthouse and police shut down a quarter-mile stretch of Bosley Avenue while the fire department investigated.
The department was able to test the air inside for leaked gas and a spokesperson declared it to be safe just after 9:30 a.m. However, a county police spokesperson said the courthouse had already decided to close the building until 1:30 p.m. to be safe, so officials, staff and anyone else there for hearings or other business did not return for several more hours.
BGE said they expected to fix the broken main within several hours. The northbound side of the road stayed closed while crews were working.
