By ANDY GARDNER

POTSDAM -- St. Lawrence Gas officials say the company is investigating a line breach at the site of traffic control work on Market Street near the Route 11 bypass on Monday afternoon.

Around 1:40 p.m., a call came in that a contractor working in that area had breached a 1.25-inch gas line near 78 Market St., according to Darren Wilson, St. Lawrence Gas manager of distribution operations.

"We will be continuing the investigation to get all the details," Wilson said.

He said they are not yet sure who was doing the contractor work.

"We're still investigating that right now," he said.

Peter Jurgeneit, general manager of St. Lawrence Gas, said crews were able to "squeeze" the gas line, which interrupted service to 74 and 76 Market St.

He said they have a tool that clamps the plastic gas line and pinches it shut. It can be removed when their repairs are complete, and the line will function like normal.

"It limits the number of customers exposed to an interruption," he said, adding that otherwise upward of 50 people could have had their gas cut off.

Potsdam Fire Department officials declined comment and referred a reporter to St. Lawrence Gas.