A gas leak at the construction site of the new jail and justice center led to the evacuation of that building and the Austin Daily Herald Tuesday.

The leak occurred around noon when a contractor hit a three-inch gas main with a backhoe, said Jerry McCarthy, general manager of Austin Utilities.

“He responded in the appropriate manner,” McCarthy said. “He called 911, which triggered the police, fire and our crews.”

Austin Utilities shut the line down to repair it within 15 minutes and gas to businesses within a two block area of the center was shut off for about an hour. The line was fixed by 2 p.m.

Austin fire responded with two vehicles and three firefighters.

“We went over there for a safety issue,” Commander Brian Lovik said. “The utilities got it capped off and let everybody go back to work.”