UGI officials declared a Millersville intersection safe Wednesday afternoon, two days after a natural gas explosion rocked the area.

Spokesman Michael Fessler said gas pockets in the soil and under the road produced small readings Wednesday, but said that the amounts were of "non-explosive levels."

"We're confident there are no safety issues," he said Wednesday evening. "No one's in danger."

Although UGI crews will continue work in the area Thursday, officials gave the go-ahead to reopen Manor Avenue just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The road had been closed since just before noon Monday, when construction workers struck a gas line near North George Street.

The leak resulted in an explosion about 90 minutes later that heavily damaged a home and business. No one was injured. The building has since been torn down.

Fessler said that on Wednesday, crews dug additional holes in the ground to vent gas which, he said, had become stuck in soil — saturated from Saturday's snowstorm — and under the street.

He said gas levels would be checked every four hours overnight Wednesday.

"If we need to do additional venting and purging, we'll be back at it (Thursday)," Fessler said. "I suspect we'll still find some trace amounts (Thursday) but expect it to be completely gone in the next day or so."

Even after a 24-hour period with no gas detected, crews will come back for several days to check levels, Fessler said.

"We know people are concerned, and we want to do everything we can to put their minds at ease," he said.

About 100 homes and businesses were evacuated Monday after the gas line was ruptured. Residents were allowed back in their homes that night, but asked to leave again Tuesday when high gas readings were again detected. They were able to return Tuesday night.

Residents were permitted to stay in their homes during work Wednesday.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry are investigating the incident.

Fessler acknowledged Tuesday that the 8-inch gas main wasn't properly marked, but said that the contractor failed to dig a "spot hole" — which he said is protocol — which would have alerted workers to the discrepancy.

• Funds have been established at Citizens Bank for Chad Eshleman and The Framery Etc. Eshleman lived in a second-floor apartment in the building that was destroyed by the explosion. The Framery was located on the first floor.

Eshleman, who was not home at the time of the explosion, lost everything, a fire official said. His dog was retrieved from the property minutes before the blast.

Donations can be made at any Citizens Bank location. The funds were established by Blue Rock Fire Rescue Support Group.

jtodd@lnpnews.com