Gas Leak Forces Emergency Closure of South Shields Street in Fort Collins
A gas leak discovered around 1 p.m. Thursday forced the complete closure of South Shields Street between West Drake Road and Rocky Mountain Way, with the street remaining closed to all traffic as of 2:15 p.m. September 25, according to the City of Fort Collins.
The leak was detected within an existing construction area where Xcel Energy has been conducting natural gas line replacement work since May 2025. Emergency crews and utility workers are on scene working to ensure safe repairs, but city officials said the timeline for reopening the road remains undetermined.
The closure has significantly impacted traffic flow in south Fort Collins, affecting the intersections of Shields and Drake and Shields and West Horsetooth Road. Westbound Horsetooth Road remains closed at Shields, requiring drivers heading west on Horsetooth to turn north or south on Shields at the intersection.
"Drivers should avoid using Shields, Horsetooth and Drake in this area if possible to avoid delays," city officials warned.
The gas leak occurred within the construction zone for Xcel Energy's multi-year Shields Street Natural Gas Project, which involves replacing roughly one mile of natural gas line between Drake Road and Horsetooth Road. The infrastructure upgrade project began in May 2025 and was scheduled to continue through fall 2025, with crews working Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
According to Xcel Energy project documentation, the natural gas line replacement aims to enhance safety and reliability of service while improving system resiliency during extreme weather conditions and addressing federal regulatory standards for pipeline safety.
When gas leaks occur in active construction zones, Fort Collins emergency response protocols require immediate evacuation of the area and establishment of safety perimeters by the fire department. Poudre Fire Authority serves as incident commander during gas leak emergencies, coordinating with Xcel Energy technicians and local law enforcement for perimeter control and road closures.
Federal pipeline safety regulations classify gas leaks by hazard level, with Grade 1 hazardous leaks requiring immediate repair. All repairs must be performed by licensed, trained pipeline technicians certified under Department of Transportation requirements. After repair completion, the line undergoes pressure testing and inspection before being cleared for service.
The closure affects one of Fort Collins' major north-south arterials, with South Shields Street typically handling more than 18,000 vehicles per day in the Drake-Horsetooth segment. Primary alternate routes include Taft Hill Road to the west and College Avenue to the east, though both corridors may experience increased congestion as traffic diverts around the closure.
For updates on road conditions and alternate routes, residents can check the city's real-time construction mapping tool, FCTrip, and transportation project pages on the city website.
The incident highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges in Fort Collins as aging utility systems undergo necessary upgrades while maintaining essential services and traffic flow through major transportation corridors.
Contact Jesus Villalobos, Senior Inspector, Compliance, at 970-889-0269 or [email protected] for additional information about the closure.