-
Apr 26, 2008 4:54 pm US/Eastern
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Water Main Break Floods Boston's Freedom Trail
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
A major water main break flooded downtown Boston streets in Faneuil Hall overnight, including parts of the Freedom Trail.
A 12-inch main burst on Devonshire at State Street around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, causing water to pour down State Street and into an MBTA blue line tunnel.
The flooding affected the Freedom Trail, and several roads and nearby shops were closed off.
Crews were eventually able to shut the water off.
During the cleanup, water, gas and electric crews realized there was a gas leak that also had to be fixed.
Because the roadways were so badly buckled, some streets were ready to collapse and had to be blocked off to cars and pedestrians.
"It was not very convenient, especially when you are a tourist and you don't know the area and you are trying to get places," said Maine resident Iole Heikkinen.
Some local businesses were forced to close their doors for the day.
"They have effectively shut me down today," said Kevin Murphy, who owns a nearby shoe store. "I got to work and everything was cordoned off, and I have no access to the store, so I guess I have the day off."
MBTA officials said service would not be affected Saturday and would run as normal.
While crews said they don't know how long it will take to make repairs and clean up the mess, the water was turned back on in the area of State Street. They estimated that Devonshire should be reopened around 9 p.m. Saturday. Boston water and sewer crews had completed their work by early Saturday evening.
The gas was shut off by late morning and no one was injured. Officials are investigating the exact cause of the water main break.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)