Choo Choo Restaurant evacuated after gas leak

The famous Choo Choo Restaurant in downtown Des Plaines had to be evacuated Friday after a construction crew broke a 2-inch gas main in the downtown area, fire Chief Alan Wax said.

It was the second gas line broken by construction workers in as many days in the city.

The leak was reported about 10:15 a.m., the chief said. The restaurant at 600 Lee St. and the Old Masonic Temple were evacuated. The break was in an alley west of the temple. Other buildings in the area were inspected, but didn’t have to be vacated, the chief said.

Nicor crews had repaired the leak by about 1 p.m., Wax said.

On Thursday a leak in a gas main forced the evacuation of a hotel near River Road and Touhy Avenue in the southeast corner of the city.

A construction crew working near the intersection broke a 2-inch natural gas main right in front of the hotel at approximately 5:45 a.m. The gas main leaked until approximately 1:30 p.m., when crews were able dig down on both sides of the pipe and pinch the leak, officials said.