Watch CBS News

Crews Work To Restore West Village Water Main That Broke Wednesday Night

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – No. 1 and 2 train service has been restored after a water main break in the West Village halted service between Times Square and Chambers Street for hours Wednesday, but the clean up continues.

Crews were still on the scene Thursday morning working to repair the 12-inch water main break that began spouting water at 6:45 p.m. near 13th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Lab tests are being done to determine what caused the break, the DEP said.

Contractors got the broken piece of the main out and put new piping in, flushing out the system to make sure the new piece fit securely, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.

West Village water main break
Section of water main that broke and caused flooding on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. (Credit: Janelle Burrell/CBS2)

Seventh Avenue, which had been shut in the area since the break, is expected to reopen tomorrow morning, officials said. Click here to check current traffic conditions.

West Village Water Main Break
A water main break flooded 13th Street and Seventh Avenue on Wednesday, April 8. (Credit: Jenny Bostic)

A photo from the scene showed brownish water inundating the intersection and coming up the sidewalk to the edge of a building.

The break forced the evacuation of 500 people from No. 1 train Wednesday evening.

Video at the scene also showed water cascading down the side of a train and pouring down into the 14th Street No. 1, 2 and 3 train station below.

Fire officials said the water was 2 feet deep in some spots and was actually covering the third rail in the subway.

No. 1, 2 Train Service Restored After Wednesday Night Water Main Break

"It's amazing. I actually came up through that part of the subway last night," West Village resident Tim Wilkes said. "It was like a waterfall down there."

Residents in affected buildings near the break had to find other places to shower after their water was turned off.

"I had to go to the club to get water and stuff but so far not too bad," Lou Borriello said.

For residents it was an inconvenience, but a marvel to think of the system more than 100 years old is relied upon by more than 5.5 million people each day.

"It's amazing. It's amazing what's underneath the city," Wilkes said.

Officials told 1010 WINS' John Montone the flooding did not reach any local basements.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.