Contaminated soil adds to traffic delays at Petaluma intersection

Petaluma’s busy McDowell Boulevard was expected to be open to traffic Wednesday following a partial closure Tuesday after PG&E workers found contaminated soil while working in the area.

Petaluma police early Tuesday morning issued a warning of heavy traffic delays expected at the major eastside intersection with East Washington Street because of reduced traffic lanes stemming from the discovery. A Petaluma fire official said the contaminant could be gasoline that had leaked years ago from a nearby gas station tank. The smelly soil was discovered Monday night while PG&E workers were digging a trench on McDowell Boulevard for a new natural-gas line.

Four-lane McDowell Boulevard was reduced to two lanes, with traffic in both directions being funneled to the two southbound lanes, according to PG&E. Police recommended drivers take alternative routes.

PG&E spokeswoman Brittany McKannay said the contamination was a possible safety hazard for workers and the project was halted until the problem could be identified and handled.

The road work has been going on at night, for about two months, as utility company workers put in a new major gas pipe in a large trench along McDowell Boulevard. While they work, traffic lanes have been reduced and during the day, workers have covered the trench with heavy steel sheeting, allowing traffic to resume.

On Tuesday morning, the decision was to leave the trench uncovered to allow fumes to air out, and police issued a public alert at 4 a.m. “We wanted to err on the side of caution and safety,” Petaluma Fire Marshal Cary Fergus said. City fire and public works officials were called to help with the incident.

McKannay said testing had ruled out natural gas and officials didn’t believe a utility gas line had been ruptured.

“Most likely it’s a historic release from one of the gas stations on one of the corners there,” Fergus said.

Fergus said PG&E was working on a solution and the whole roadway was expected to be open for traffic Wednesday morning.

The intersection is one of the busiest in the city, connecting Petaluma’s main east-to-west connector route to the east side’s biggest thoroughfare. It is busy with gas stations, retail and commercial properties and residences.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @rossmannreport.