WEST GARDINER, Maine (WMTW) – Gas pumps at the Maine Turnpike Authority’s West Gardiner service plaza are back in business after a shutdown that lasted about 12 hours.

A technician working to repair gas pumps told Maine Total Coverage reporter Jackie Mundry that one of the pumps malfunctioned at about 2 a.m. Monday due to an electrical problem. The technician also said that because of the gas station’s sensor system, all pumps shut down for safety when such a problem occurs, even if it affects only one pump.

Total Maine coverage became aware of the problem when the Maine Turnpike Authority’s Traffic Management Center distributed an alert at 9 a.m. warning drivers traveling on Interstate 95 that gas was not available in the West Gardiner service plaza due to pump problems. The MTA also put up signs on the freeway to let people know that there is no gas available in the service market.

“I should be able to get where I’m going, but I was planning to gas up here, so it’s kind of disrupting things,” said traveler Jacob Clark.

Diesel was still available in the service market while the gas pumps were shut down.

The gas pumps at the service market reopened around 2 p.m

“We apologize for the inconvenience,” the MTA said in its alert, which was lifted shortly before 4:10 p.m.

West Gardiner Service Market can be accessed via Exit 102 from Interstate 95 North and Exit 103 from I-95 South. Travelers on Interstate 295 can also access the service plaza via Exit 51.

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