The evacuation order of dozens of buildings in Burnside has been lifted.

The order came after a natural gas leak happened near the intersection of Joseph Zatzman and Akerley Boulevard. A four-inch natural gas pipe was ruptured just before 8:30 a.m. AT Wednesday. Crews working in the area who ruptured the pipe told CBC News they spoke with Heritage Gas before digging and discussed the gas line map.

HRM spokesperson Brendan Elliott says traffic is now back to normal on most of the previously closed roads.

"The only section still blocked off to traffic is along Joseph Zatzman between Akerley Boulevard and Turner Drive. This closure is needed so the punctured natural gas main can be repaired," he said in a news release.

At one point on Wednesday, traffic was blocked on Akerley Boulevard between Burnside Drive and Isnor Drive, as well as Joseph Zatzman Drive between Turner Drive and Simmonds Drive. (Catharine Tunney/CBC)

Deputy Fire Chief Roy Hollett, with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, said 30 to 50 buildings were evacuated and power was shut down to a "significant area of the grid." Power has since been restored.

"This morning we had a construction crew working on Joe Zatzman and Akerley, actually on Joe Zatzman. They hit a four-inch natural gas main, severed it," he said.

Hollett said, initially, there was a risk of an explosion.

"Earlier this morning the ‘Lower Explosive Limit’ was high enough that it was a concern for us to expand the area of the evacuation, considerably. We’ve opened up some sewer covers and the levels have dropped enough to where it’s more of us being cautious right now than an immediate hazard," said Hollett.

Hollet said the LEL was around nine to 11 per cent today, while a level of 14 to 15 per cent is considered an immediate explosion threat.

Businesses affected

Lindsay Giles, director of the Maritime Reptile Zoo, was concerned about the animals she watches over after learning that the power was out.

"We were concerned about the smell of the gas where it was so strong in the park, we didn’t know if it was inside at all. So we came in and did a walk through and a sniff test and there was no smell of anything inside and all the animals were just resting quietly. So we just closed things back up," she said.

She takes care of many cold-blooded animals that require heat to survive.

"The lights will be on for a little bit longer tonight so that they have a longer photoperiod with the light on because usually they're on around 10 o’clock in the morning and they didn’t come on today until almost 1 p.m.," said Giles.

In addition to the snakes and lizards of various sizes, spiders, turtles, tortoises, alligators, crocodiles, and caimans — the zoo also has a small monkey.

Part of Burnside was a virtual ghost town during this morning's natural gas leak. 0:21

This is the second gas leak in Dartmouth in as many weeks.