KINSTON, NC (WNCT) – N.C. Highway 11 is back open to traffic following a carbon dioxide leak Monday night.

Fire officials with the Hugo and Sand Hill Volunteer Fire Departments spend about three hours Monday night tackling the leak between Wallace Family and Ferrell roads.

Crews responded to a hazmat situation at a carbon dioxide company, NuCO2.

The company produces the chemical as a cooling agent for drink machines.

Sand Hill Fire Chief David Jones tells 9OYS one of the tanks holding the chemical started leaking which caused a thick cloud of smoke to develop.

Subsequently, crews shut down the highway after the cloud began to impact driver visibility.

They also evacuated residents in the area as a precaution.

At the moment, the highway is back open and there is no immediate threat to the public.