All businesses and residents on Covington Highway between South Indian Creek and Mercer Road in DeKalb County were evacuated Thursday after a work crew struck a natural gas line in the area.

After being closed for about two hours, all lanes between South Indian Creek and Mercer Road are open.

Atlanta Gas Light crews shut the gas off and were repairing the line.

DeKalb County police spokeswoman Shiera Campbell said the line has been repaired.

In other news:

Channel 2's Jim Strickland was there for the early morning arrest.

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Ernie Suggs, a reporter at the AJC since 1997, reviews a selection of articles he has contributed to during his time with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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