Natural gas leak snarls traffic at LAX after gas line struck during construction, LAFD says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Repairs are underway after a natural gas line was broken during construction, snarling traffic near the Los Angeles International Airport.

The six-inch gas line was struck by a third-party contractor conducting utility work around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday along Sepulveda Boulevard, one of the main access points to LAX, according to SoCal Gas.

SoCal Gas crews are working to complete temporary repairs to stop the leak. It's expected to be permanently fixed Thursday morning.

The incident forced the closure of several lanes of Sepulveda Boulevard overnight.

The damaged line and the repair work could create havoc with the rush of holiday travelers heading in and out of Los Angeles International Airport for Memorial Day weekend travel, which gets underway Thursday.

Officials said travel to and from Los Angeles airport will be "severely impacted" until temporary repairs are completed.

Gas service in the area is not expected to be disrupted. Homeowners, businesses and contractors are encouraged to call 811 before digging at construction sites or in yards to avoid damaging underground lines.

City News Service contributed to this report.