A water main break Tuesday forced city officials to close West Union Street from Congress to High streets until later that night.
Athens Police Department Lt. David Williams was sent to help direct traffic about noon. He said a large water line by Bromley and Lindley Halls broke and water forced the road to rise. Williams contacted the city water services who sent a crew out to shut down the water and begin repairs.
Crews used a backhoe to dig up a portion of the street where the pipe was. As of yesterday, West Union was reopened with construction barrels used to redirect traffic around the hole. Williams said the decision about the street was left to the street department.
Ted Fares, director of engineering for Ohio University facilities management, said the city was able to isolate Bromley and Lindley and, other than a city issued boil order, the university buildings did not have any further problems.
Fares said the break was caused by when a car hit one of the fire hydrants jerked it, fractured it and the pressure forced the pipe to break.
According to Associate Director of Student Services Timothy Hogan’s office a boil order was issued for West Union Street from Depot Street to University Terrace, West State Street between High and College Streets, Carpenter Street, South Lancaster Street, College Street, High Street, Congress Street, University Terrace, Baker Center and Court Street. The order was in effect from the time of the break until 5 p.m. yesterday.
The city Water and Sewer Maintenance department refused to comment on the water main break or any boil orders issued.
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Matt Hutton
