All lanes reopened on Gulf of Mexico Drive after gas-line break

All lanes have reopened on Gulf of Mexico Drive on the north end of Longboat Key, town officials reported. 

The two-lane road had been closed for hours in the 6500 block following a gas-line break, which was reported before noon. Town officials said the road reopened just before 5 p.m.

There was no immediate word on how the break happened. Fire rescue crews were dispatched to the scene around 11:40 a.m. The town announced one lane had reopened around 3:45 p.m.

It’s the second such road closure because of a gas-line break in a week.

Officials on June 27 closed both lanes of the road in the southern portion of the island following a gas-line brea near Bay Isles Parkway. In that case, traffic was rerouted for hours through a gated community.