Photo: CTV

UPDATE: 2 p.m.

FortisBC says a natural gas leak in Vancouver's downtown core has been brought under control.

Crews upgrading a plaza in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery ruptured a gas line late Monday morning.

The leak forced the closure of West Georgia Street, between Burrard and Howe streets, which is a major downtown thoroughfare.

Police at one point reported gas bubbling up through the sidewalk.

Fortis said in the early afternoon Monday that the leak was under control and repairs were to begin shortly.

Fortis spokesman Michael Allison says technicians will have to go door to door or business to business to relight pilot lights for appliances and that could take some time.

UPDATE: 12:15 p.m.

Crews upgrading a plaza in downtown Vancouver have ruptured a gas line and closed a major intersection.

FortisBC spokesman Michael Allison says crews are shutting down the gas supply but there is no danger to any businesses or homes near the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Police say gas is bubbling up through the sidewalk, and Allison says any smell is actually a chemical added to natural gas.

He says it's not known how many customers are affected, but the art gallery remains open.

"When we do restore service to our customers it does require a technician going door to door or business to business relighting each of those pilot lights for appliances, so that could take some time."

West Georgia St., a major thoroughfare through the downtown core, has been closed between Burrard and Howe streets.

ORIGINAL

A major intersection in Vancouver has been closed by a gas leak.

FortisBC has arrived at the scene, on Georgia Street, and crews are shutting down the gas supply.

Vancouver Police say gas is bubbling up through the sidewalk.

West Georgia, which is a major thoroughfare through the downtown core, has been closed between Burrard and Howe streets.

Pedestrian and vehicle traffic has been cleared from the area, but the Vancouver Art Gallery has not been evacuated.

A cause of the gas line rupture is not known, but crews have been upgrading the plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery.