Gas leak mitigated, Florida's Turnpike reopened after excavator hits gas main causing major leak, officials say

A major gas leak that forced officials to shut down Florida's Turnpike for hours in Hollywood on Friday has been mitigated and the highway is being reopened, officials said.As of Friday afternoon, southbound lanes have reopened and northbound lanes remain closed.The intense situation began to unfold just before 11 a.m. when Hollywood Fire-Rescue said they responded to the area of North 62nd Avenue and Arthur Street for a reported gas leak.When units arrived, they said that they found a main gas line running the length of Florida's Turnpike was struck by an excavator, resulting in a major gas leak.Officials were then forced to shut down a stretch of Florida's Turnpike from Hollywood Boulevard to Griffin Road, and traffic was being diverted off the road.In addition, residents in the area were told to evacuate the area.Just after 1:30 p.m., officials said that the gas leak had been mitigated, and Florida's Turnpike was reopened.No injuries were reported.