Authorities evacuated buildings in downtown Steamboat Springs on Wednesday after a contractor working in an alley adjacent to City Hall struck a gas line just after 10 a.m.

Authorities reported the gas leak in the alley had been cut off by Atmos Energy Co. just after 12:30 p.m., and evacuation orders were lifted a short time later.

Steamboat Springs City Manager Gary Suiter said crews working for FCI Constructors — the contractor working on the construction of a new city hall and fire station at the corner of 10th Street and Lincoln Avenue — were digging in the area at the time.

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Construction crews on scene Wednesday morning reported that a crew “nicked” a gas line laid beneath the alley connecting Ninth and 10th streets between Oak and Lincoln streets.

The contractor and Atmos Energy Co. could not be reached for comment Wednesday. It is unclear if the gas line was marked, or if it was unknown to the crews working in the area.

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After the gas leak was reported, portions of Ninth and 10th streets were closed, and Oak Street was closed in both directions between Eighth and 12th streets. Emergency radio traffic indicated that buildings were evacuated from Ninth to 10th streets from Lincoln Avenue to Oak Street.

According to Steamboat police, the traffic signal at Ninth Street and Lincoln Avenue was affected before crews with the Yampa Valley Electric Association responded and fixed the problem.

Due to the suspected gas leak, YVEA turned off power in downtown Steamboat with 1,649 customers affected. All power has since been restored.

Just before noon, Routt County officials advised residents that gas was being turned back on in the area and said that if someone smells gas in their building, they should call 911 and leave the building if it is safe to do so.

Authorities also began lifting traffic restrictions in the area shortly before 1 p.m. There were no injuries reported due to the incident, according to Steamboat police.

Also cut along with the gas line was a fiber cable that resulted in a systemwide internet outage throughout Steamboat. This impacted internet connectivity and phone service for all customers in steamboat, Clark, Oak Creek, Yampa, Phippsburg, and homes in Lynx Pass.

“We are going to need to make repairs to this fiber line in order to get service back up and running for Luminate customers,” said Carly Davidson, public relations specialist with YVEA. “We currently are bringing in splicers to assist with these repairs, and we estimate it will be at least two hours before this outside help arrives to assist us. Once they arrive, it will be an involved process with pulling new fiber and have the splicers help in getting the line repaired. We currently do not have an estimated restoration time, and Luminate will continue to provide updates.”

Davidson encouraged customers to follow Luminate on Facebook to receive updated information.

“We apologize for this inconvenience and are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore service to our customers,” Davidson said.

The hissing sound from the gas leak could be heard in the blocks around the area, prompting some bystanders to recall the explosion of the Good News Building in Steamboat 30 years ago.

The blast caused by a lingering gas leak in a storm sewer two blocks away occurred on Feb. 3, 1994, at 442 Lincoln Ave. and caused a fire that burned for hours. Nearby buildings on Third to 11th streets from Yampa Avenue to Oak Street were evacuated as a precaution.

There were 50 people in the Good News Building at the time of the 1994 explosion and 24 were injured. News reports said six were treated at the scene, 18 were transported to Routt Memorial Hospital (which was downtown at the time), and two were flown to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood.