Interstate 77 has reopened in both directions in West Virginia after crews worked through the night to repair damage from a massive natural gas line explosion and fire.

Four homes were destroyed Tuesday and a section of Interstate 77 was cooked when a 20-inch Columbia Gas transmission line exploded and triggered a massive fire.

Nobody was killed, but several people were treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire melted guardrails and left a huge swath of the interstate in Sissonville impassible. The interstate was reopened to traffic in both directions early Wednesday.

A roughly 800-foot section in both directions was baked by the heat. Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox said crews had to remove asphalt and grind the roadway down to the original concrete before repaving.

Federal and state officials are investigating what caused the explosion.

WEB EXTRA: Unedited news release
(Dec. 12, 2012 – 10:32 a.m.)

GOVERNOR TOMBLIN ANNOUNCES INTERSTATE 77 RE-OPENED
Roadway was closed due to Monday's gas line fire

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today announced Interstate 77 has re-opened following yesterday's explosion which caused significant damage to the highway near Sissonville.

"Yesterday's fire destroyed a heavily travelled section of Interstate 77, and I'm very happy to report the road has re-opened," Gov. Tomblin said. "West Virginia Division of Highways, West Virginia Paving, American Asphalt and many others worked through the night to repair and repave the fire damaged section of Interstate 77. I'm truly appreciative of their efforts."

Following a test of the lines by Columbia Gas, crews were able to open Interstate 77 northbound around 3:15 a.m. with the southbound lanes re-opening around 8 a.m.