Water service has been restored for residents affected by a water main break that developed early Wednesday morning.
Public Works Director Frank Abart says the failed piece, a 20-inch line near 12th and Sunnyslope was repaired and replaced just before 2 p.m. While the repair has been made, traffic flow is still being re-routed and may not be reopened until Friday. The force of the water flow buckled and heaved sidewalk on the north side of 12th and it shifted a portable toilet on the south side of the street.
City crews have been working for several weeks to replace the existing pipe along 12th from Prairie to Grand. Work could continue for the next three weeks or so. Abart says he can’t guarantee future breaks won’t happen in that area.
Earlier this spring, the city was fortunate to have just one water main break from March to May, although this water main break is the sixth one so far in June. Abart says summer months are typically the worst for water main breaks in the city limits.
10:00 a.m. Wednesday
Underground Utilities crews are repairing a water main that failed early Wednesday near 12th and Sunnyslope.
Public Works Director Frank Abart says an old 20-inch line failed, with city crews notified around 2 am. The failure point developed very close to a new pipe with crews working to replace the old line that stretches along 12th from Prairie east to Sunnyslope, as well as a connecting 16-inch line from Sunnyslope to Grand.
The force of the water flow buckled and heaved sidewalk on the north side of 12th and it shifted a portable toilet on the south side of the street.
Abart says work had been going well on the replacement leading up to this point. He says water service will likely be offline for most of the day along 12th between Prairie and Sunnyslope. Road repairs, meanwhile, could take the rest of the work week, with traffic disruptions guaranteed Wednesday, likely Thursday and possibly Friday.
Earlier this spring, the city was fortunate to have just one water main break from March to May, although this water main break is the sixth one so far in June. Abart says summer months are typically the worst for water main breaks in the city limits.
8:30 am: Water service could be restored by late Wednesday, but traffic repairs may go longer after water main break
Underground Utilities crews are repairing a water main that failed early Wednesday near 12th and Sunnyslope.
Public Works Director Frank Abart says an old 20-inch line failed, with city crews notified around 2 am. The failure point developed very close to a new pipe with crews working to replace the old line that stretches along 12th from Prairie east to Sunnyslope, as well as a connecting 16-inch line from near Sunnyslope to Grand.
Abart says work had been going well on the replacement leading up to this point. He says water service will likely be offline for most of the day along 12th between Prairie and Sunnyslope. Road repairs, meanwhile, could take the rest of the work week, with traffic disruptions guaranteed all day Wednesday, likely Thursday and possibly Friday.
Check KVOE.com for updates, photos and video of the reconstruction work.
5:30 am Wednesday: Water main break on 12th disrupts service, closes traffic from Sunnyslope to Prairie
Emporia’s Underground Utilities Department has a busy day ahead.
A water main break was reported near 12th and Prairie around 2:30 am Wednesday. Initial investigation actually puts the leak on 12th just west of Sunnyslope, with water running downhill towards Prairie for an unknown amount of time before the leak was reported.
This comes as city crews continue their work to replace a 20-inch water main on 12th from Prairie to Grand. At this time, it’s unclear if existing pipe, new pipe or a secondary line is at fault. However, the force of the water flow apparently buckled and heaved the sidewalk on the north side of 12th and moved a portable toilet on the south side of the street.
Emporia Police says all traffic on 12th from Prairie to Sunnyslope is closed until further notice. Cross traffic, or northbound and southbound traffic, on Woodland, Sunnyslope, Gloria and Beverly, is also closed until further notice. Water service is also offline on 12th from Prairie to Sunnyslope while initial repairs are completed.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}Water Main Break June 20 2018{/gallery}
