Drivers heading northbound on Inwood Road near Forest Lane are being rerouted as crews work to repair a gas leak that disrupted the area on Tuesday night. Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) told NBC 5 they received multiple reports of a natural gas smell near a home improvement store at the intersection. Firefighters searched for the source but could not locate the leak that night and informed Atmos Energy, which continued the investigation. By Wednesday morning, Atmos requested DFR to block the street while their crews located and began repairing the issue. Shortly before 11 a.m., NBC 5’s Texas Sky Ranger captured footage of crews working on an 8-inch gas line. Workers had excavated a hole in the middle northbound lane of Inwood, directly in front of the home improvement store, where they focused their repair efforts. Atmos Energy confirmed that gas service to the area was shut off around 1:30 p.m., impacting 11 businesses and a nearby high school. Some businesses reported being asked to close early for safety reasons. “In the morning [the smell] was worse. Even in our restaurant, you could smell it,” said Leticia Thilen, a manager at a nearby restaurant. “They want all the buildings to close because it’s dangerous, and they haven’t made much progress fixing it.” Atmos provided an update Wednesday afternoon, stating that southbound lanes on Inwood Road had been reopened to accommodate traffic in both directions. Gas service was also restored to eight customers, while crews continued working late into the night to restore service to the remaining affected businesses and properties. The company reminded residents of the road closures between Forest Lane and Willow Lane and encouraged drivers to find alternate routes to avoid delays. In a statement, Atmos Energy emphasized the importance of public safety:“Gas to the area has been shut off, and crews remain on scene to make the necessary repairs. The safety of the public, our employees, and our system is our highest priority. We want to thank Dallas Fire-Rescue for their support.” Atmos also urged residents to act quickly if they suspect a gas leak:“If you think you smell gas, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance, call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number, 866.322.8667.” : https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/recognizing-leak Though repair efforts are ongoing, no timeline for completion has been provided.