EL PASO, Texas -- Several firefighters blocked a large stretch of Alameda between C.R. Croom and Polo Inn Monday afternoon, after gas crews accidentally hit a two-inch line.

"We actually have two hose lines set up in case anything were to happen. We do have water there on the scene," El Paso firefighter Ramon Valencia said.

Luckily no one was injured, but several people had to be evacuated while emergency crews measured the amount of explosive gas in the air. All traffic in the area was shut down for several hours -- bad news for businesses already forced to deal with a drop in customers.

"Traffic's been backed up, customers have a hard time coming through because of the tractors in here, so it's been kind of slow but we've got to deal with it," HDS Bodyshop employee Ernesto Nieto said.

Several businesses along alameda told KFOX they have had to close these past few days while gas crews have ripped up pavement and shut down traffic for a main-line replacement project. Local cafes, normally packed, now stand empty.

"We're affected a lot, since we have so much food and nobody to eat it," Erika's cafe employee Becky Lujan said.

A spokeswoman for the Texas Gas Service in Austin said they are aware the project could be hurting businesses, and plan to have the things finished as soon as possible, which could take up to five weeks.