Repair work on a 20-inch water line that failed at the intersection of Prairie and 12th is complete. Road repairs, however, may not be wrapped up until next week.
That was the report from Public Works Director Dean Grant on KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Tuesday morning. Grant’s update followed a busy day for Emporia’s underground utilities crews which handled four breaks in two hours between 10 am and noon Monday.
This included the break on the line at Prairie just north of 12th which has been a problematic line for years according to City Manager Trey Cocking during the monthly Q&A With Trey segment Monday morning. Grant adds that in addition to the line’s age and increased usage locally, repair work elsewhere may have played a role in the line’s failure.
The line break did cause damage to the roadway in the area and led to traffic being shut down throughout the repair process. Traffic remains completely blocked from Park Avenue to 12th and likely will be through early next week according to Grant so long as forecasted rainfall doesn’t delay those plans. Motorists will need to find an alternate route of travel in the meantime.
Monday’s break came as the city reopened 24th and has started early work on Prairie for its major 24th and Prairie waterline replacement project. The process has been installing larger-bore waterlines, anywhere from 6-24 inches in diameter, and will continue through the summer or fall of 2025.
Grant says Monday’s line failure should not impact that work schedule and did not lead to the issuance of any advisories related to the quality of Emporia’s drinking supply.
In addition to the break on Prairie, crews also dealt with breaks in the 1000 block of Grand, the 1100 block of Walnut and at 12th and West.
