Chicago water main bursts, causing Near West Side street to ice over amid frigid temps
CHICAGO - City crews were working to clean up an icy street following a water main break in Chicago’s Near West Side neighborhood on Tuesday.
What we know:
The break occurred near Western Avenue and Jackson Boulevard and resulted in large amounts of water spilling onto the street, which quickly froze amid freezing temperatures across the area.
The water main, an eight-inch pipe originally installed in 1930, has since been turned off.
City crews pushed through the icy challenge, salting and clearing to keep vehicle and foot traffic moving as safely as possible. Southbound drivers still face a right-lane closure, clearly marked with signage to help slow things down.
What's next:
It is unclear at this point how long it will take to fix the problem.
Crews are currently excavating the water main. If everything goes well, they will have the hole excavated in about two to three hours.
At that time, they will be able to determine the extent of the break and repair the main.
The Department of Water Management reminds residents to prevent frozen pipes, make sure that warm air is circulating throughout their homes and keep a trickle of water going.