Gas leak closes Route 1 in South Brunswick, evacuates businesses

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A leak from a gas main in the Deer Park section of this Middlesex County township led to a closure of Route 1 and the evacuation of several nearby businesses.

Police Det. Dennis Yuhasz said a Verizon work crew within Deer Park along Route 1, between Ridge Road and Raymond roads,  hit a gas line around 10 a.m.

Route 1 was reopened in the northbound direction around 11 a.m. while southbound reopened at noon.

"They're evacuating everyone around the area," Yuhasz said, which as of 10:45 a.m. was voluntary. "We're trying to co-ordinate if there is a need to bring buses in" to help with getting people out. "There's no immediate risk at this time we're aware of. We're doing everything for precautionary reasons."

Yuhasz said Route 27 and Route 130 are alternatives to get completely around the closure point, which has affected several hotels, the Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal complex on the northbound side of Route 1, and the Brandywine Senior Living Center off Raymond Road as well as the Park Place Medical Center. on Deerpark Drive.

Brandywine Executive Director Holly Minnis said their facility is not being evacuated and she has not spoken to police.

A shopping center with Target and Best Buy is located just north of Raymond Road.

There's no injuries reported, Yuhasz said.

There's no time frame for how long repairs will take according Yuhasz, who warned it could be an extended period of time.