Manitoba Hydro crews spent much of the day Wednesday fixing a gas leak that slowed traffic downtown and temporarily shut off gas service for a number of buildings in the area.

Fire crews, police and Hydro crews had been at the scene of the gas leak in an alley behind the 300 block of Portage Avenue since shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Traffic was restricted all morning on Portage Avenue eastbound at Carlton, as well as Carlton at St. Mary Avenue.

At around 4:30 p.m., Hydro spokesperson Scott Powell told CBC News the gas leak has been fixed, and crews were starting to re-pressurize the system.

It appears that a contractor was cutting concrete behind 330 Portage Ave. when it hit a gas main, Powell said.

Hydro shut off gas to the damaged pipe. Powell said gas service was turned off to 21 major customers, including the MTS Centre, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Hydro itself.