Two gas leaks shut down Route 64 in St. Charles, West Chicago

A roughly two-mile stretch of Route 64 remains shut down in St. Charles and West Chicago due to two separate gas leaks.

The St. Charles Fire Department sent out an alert about two leaks on Route 64 about 12:30 p.m. indicating the leaks were at Powis Road and Route 64 in West Chicago and at 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles.

Both the fire department and Nicor crews responded to the gas main strikes, and as of 1:30 p.m., Route 64 remained closed between Kautz Road and Route 59.

Officials said the leak at 4051 E. Main St. had been shut down at 1 p.m., but natural gas was still leaking from the second break at Powis Road and Route 64 as of 6 p.m.

St. Charles officials said traffic to local businesses in the closed area was being allowed as repairs were under way.

A Nicor spokesman said both leaks were caused by third-party contractors.

A contractor struck a 2-inch plastic main at 4051 E. Main St. at 12:45 p.m., which cut off gas to the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel at Route 64 and Pleasant Hill Road, said Nicor spokesman Craig Whyte. Although the leak was stopped by 1 p.m., service to the hotel remained down as of 6 p.m.

The strike at Powis Road and Route 64 ruptured a 2-inch steel main, but no customers in the area lost service.

Nicor did not have an estimate as to when the main would be repaired.