Preliminary work has finished after a water main break in central Emporia on Monday night.
Issues at Ninth and West developed around 10 pm after a split developed in an eight-foot section of water line. Public Works Director Dean Grant says it took some time to get the water shut off so crews could start the investigation and repair work.
In all, the city adjusted around 15 different valves before the water flow was finally turned off before 1 am. In the meantime, water was over a foot deep near Ninth and West. Water also flowed south to Seventh and West — with some water going to Seventh and Washington before it drained away.
Initial repairs, including the bracing of a utility pole almost directly on top of the leak, took place through the overnight hours. Ninth was closed to traffic between Rural and West overnight but reopened to traffic before 8 am. Water service was restored by 10:30 am Tuesday.
Grant says the tentative plan is to fill the cutout with concrete, although the time for that has not been finalized.
1:30 am Tuesday: Repairs underway on central Emporia water main break
Ninth Avenue between Rural and West is currently blocked after a significant water main break developed Monday night in central Emporia.
The break apparently happened at the intersection of Ninth and West and was reported shortly before 10 pm. A small whirlpool was seen in the middle of Ninth between West and Rural. Water from the break flowed south on West to Seventh and was also noted at Seventh and Washington.
The water was shut off before 1 am Tuesday, with excavation starting shortly before 1:30 pm. All other details are currently pending.
We”ll have updates on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
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