Two busy streets near WellStar Kennestone Hospital have reopened after being shut down because of a gas leak Wednesday afternoon, Marietta police said. However, Whitcher Street remains blocked.

Around 3 p.m., police began directing traffic away from the Church Street area where it meets with Cherry and Witcher streets, the department said in a tweet.

The leak prompted police to relocate patients in the Green Tower at Kennestone, which is a Level 2 trauma center.

The hospital has the busiest emergency room in Georgia, Channel 2 Action News reported, and that area is located within the Green Tower.

The leak was caused by construction on a new emergency room, which is near Church Street. A worker cut the gas line under the road, according to Channel 2.

Just after 5 p.m., the gas leak was contained, according to Channel 2. However, Church Street didn’t reopen until after 7:15 p.m. because of residual gas, Channel 2 reported. Patients have also been moved back to their rooms, and the hospital is resuming normal operations.

It’s unclear when Whitcher Street will reopen.

— Please return to AJC.com for updates.

In other news:

Authorities launched a massive police operation off of Alpine Court, where officers later arrested the suspect.

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Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

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