A gas leak shut down several streets in Langley City Monday morning.

At about 8: 40 a.m., City firefighters were called to the area around Industrial Avenue and 200th Street.

An excavator operator working on 200A Street, a short side road, apparently hit a two-inch natural gas pipe, said Langley City fire chief Rory Thompson.

Firefighters and Langley RCMP evacuated an area around the leak and blocked Industrial from 201A Street to 200th Street, but the smell of gas was obvious for up to a quarter mile away.

The gas leak was contained by 9: 45 a.m.

Deputy fire chief Bob Scott said firefighters checked gas levels in several nearby buildings before allowing the employees to go back into the area.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com