A ruptured water main in Times Square flooded streets in famous tourist areas and disrupted service on one of the busiest subway lines during the morning rush hour, according to municipal officials.
According to Rohit Aggarwala, commissioner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the high pressure water main ruptured at 3 a.m. on Tuesday. The 20-inch pipe, which was built in 1896, burst at West 40th Street and Seventh Avenue.
It was not immediately obvious what caused it to break, but personnel responded and were able to turn off all the water in about an hour, according to Aggarwala. However, before it happened, water flooded the neighborhood’s streets and the local subway station.
There were no complaints of any issues with other services, such as gas or electric, as a result of the breach.
According to the MTA, the surrounding subway lines—specifically the 1, 2, and 3 line—did have issues. Riders were warned by the transportation agency to virtually avoid the route, especially in Manhattan, since all service along the line was interrupted. According to the MTA, service for 3 trains between Manhattan and Brooklyn was halted in both directions, and neither the 1 nor the 2 trains were operating on that route between Chambers Street and West 96th Street.
Although it wasn’t immediately known how long the disruption to subway service would last, officials warned that streets around the breach would probably be closed for the most of the day. According to the NYC Office of Emergency Management, 40th Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue and a portion of Seventh Avenue between 39th Street and 42nd Street were both blocked as of 9 a.m.
