A MAJOR roundabout has reopened to traffic following a gas leak this morning.

The Black Dam Roundabout, which is undergoing a major development, was reopened this lunchtime.

It had been closed completely to traffic coming off the M3 at junction 6. The Hackwood Roundabout junction with the eastbound A30 was also closed, as was the Old Common Junction with the ring road.

It is thought a contractor’s digger, being used on the redevelopment of the roundabout, caused the leak when it hit a pipe at about 8.40am this morning.

Engineers from SGN, the gas network company, were on the scene to carry out a repair. The site of the leak was close to Barbel Avenue, Eastrop.

Three crews from Basingstoke fire station were also sent to the roundabout, although only one remained there throughout the closure on a watching brief.

Rucstall Primary School, in Holbein Close, Black Dam, closed as a precaution, although homes in Black Dam between the primary school and the roundabout were not evacuated.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller said the Highways Agency will now do a full investigation.

She said: “My personal opinion is that this is a really concerning accident which needs to be investigated in full.

“But, I would commend how quickly people have reacted to it because the closure of roads in that area causes a large amount of traffic congestion and the agencies involved acted quickly to get the roads opened as soon as it was safe to do so.”

In a statement, SGN said: “One of our gas pipes was damaged by a third party carrying out works in the area. We were called out at approximately 8.45am this morning and attended quickly. We have made a permanent repair to the damaged pipe and are currently preparing to leave site.”