PG&E capped the gas line rupture at 18th and Castro streets at 3:05 p.m., according to company spokesman Joe Molica.
Gas service for all customers should have been restored by 5:30 p.m, and PG&E hopes to be finished with repair work by 6 p.m.
Traffic is moving along 18th Street again, but Castro Street is open only to foot traffic between 18th and 17th.
Buses are running in the area again, rerouted around the rupture spot. But some issues remain. A 33-line bus was out of service at 18th and Church streets because it blew a breaker after PG&E turned off the power to the lines. A 24 & Divisadero bus was waiting to be towed at 18th and Castro at 4:30 p.m. because of a computer problem that may be related to the power shutoff. The driver said it had been stuck in the area for about two hours.
At 4:30 p.m., light rain fell sporadically as PG&E workers dug at a hole in the street. There was still a faint smell of gas in the air from the sidewalk near the hole.
Many stores are still closed, but Walgreens on the corner of 18th and Castro was able to reopen shortly after 3 p.m., according to an employee. Molica said the Walgreens and restaurants were prioritized for gas service restoration.
The gas leak occurred shortly before 1 p.m. when a contractor accidentally ruptured a PG&E gas line. Resident Dave Bain said the contractor had been digging with a tractor.
It is unclear what the contractor was working on.
