Water Main Break Floods Chelsea Roads, Buildings

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A major water main break was brought under control Wednesday after creating a wet mess in Chelsea.

It happened on Ninth Avenue at 29th Street shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

FDNY Deputy Chief Christopher Boyle said a Department of Environmental Protection crew was working on a 48-inch water main when a plug failed.

As of 4:15 p.m., the leak was stopped and repairs were underway. Two lanes of traffic were reopened on Ninth Avenue.

Flooding was reported at several buildings and the Fire Department pumped water out of basements, CBS2's Jim Smith reported.

"There's really nothing down there except for maybe some small supplies, nothing big," Boyle said. "So I think we'll be fine and ready to go tomorrow."

Some gas and electrical service in the area was impacted. The break also crumpled the street's surface and forced a traffic detour, 1010 WINS Al Jones reported. 

"Everything's going to be fine and it's just another day in New York City," a bar owner affected by the break told 1010 WINS' Al Jones. "And there'll be something downtown or there'll be something uptown tomorrow and this will be just a memory."

Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Buildings, Con Edison and Office of Emergency Management were on the scene.

West 28th and 29th streets between Eighth and Ninth avenues were closed for hours because of flooding.

Everyone in the area had their water service back by Wednesday evening.