Route 176 near Wauconda reopens after gas leak

A natural gas leak forced authorities to shut down a stretch of Route 176 near Wauconda for more than five hours Thursday.

The leak occurred about 7 a.m., west of Fairfield Road. Crews doing road improvements punctured a gas line on the south shoulder with machinery, Wauconda Fire Protection District officials said. The road was reopened to traffic about 1 p.m., officials said.

No one was hurt, nor was there a fire, officials said.

Route 176 was shut down between Fairfield Road and the entrance to the Lakewood Forest Preserve, which is just west of the intersection a short time later as a precaution until the line could be capped, officials said.