Davidson firefighters responded to a gas leak on Jetton Street Friday afternoon. (Dione Burleson photo)

Updated 6:40 p.m.
Jetton Street in Davidson was closed for several hours Friday afternoon after a construction crew accidentally cut a gas line. Several homes in the area were evacuated because of high gas levels as firefighters worked to contain the leak.

The incident happened after 3 p.m. near Hamilton Street, not far from Hoke Lumber. A PSNC gas company crew also was on the scene, according to a fire department spokesman.

At around 3:45 p.m., dispatchers called additional Davidson firefighters and Medic to stand by at the scene in case of complications from the leak.

As of 4:45 p.m., the road was still closed as a PSNC crew used a backhoe to locate the  the cut.  The fire spokesman said the incident sliced a major 6-inch gas line, so officials were taking no chances with public safety by halting traffic through the area and evacuating homes.

The road was expected to reopen by 8 p.m.