Nearly a dozen city residents were ordered to evacuate their homes early Monday following a gas main break in front of 319 N. Oakland St.

Director of Administration Kerry Brugger said the gas main was damaged by contractors attempting to remove a concrete catch basin on the east side of North Oakland Street between West Church and West Ward streets.

Contractors have been in the area since last week working on the North Oakland Street Phase 2 Project, which involves the installation of new curbs and gutters, sidewalk, and catch basins along both sides of North Oakland Street from West Church Street to Union Alley.

Urbana Fire Chief Mark Keller said after his department was notified of the gas main break around 8:40 a.m., an evacuation order was issued for nearby residents as a precaution.

The evacuation order was lifted, he said, around 11 a.m. after crews from Columbia Gas shut off the gas and secured the site.