Water service restored, streets remain closed after steam pipe explosion in downtown Baltimore
BALTIMORE -- BALTIMORE -- Street closures remain in effect but water service was restored Monday in downtown Baltimore after a steam pipe explosion injured four workers Sunday afternoon.
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation said as of 5 a.m. Monday, two lanes are open on Eastbound Pratt Street between Greene Street and Howard Street, but Eutaw Street remains closed.
"Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists in the area should use caution and plan ahead for traffic delays," the agency said.
Officials said the steam line explosion happened around 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of W. Pratt Street and S. Eutaw Street, and caused major traffic delays and detours.
The explosion also caused a water outage at the Marriott Inner Harbor and Hilton Baltimore.
Dawson James Merriman and his family, who got to the Marriott just in time for the explosion, said his family is in town from Ford City, Pennsylvania to catch the Oriole's game.
"I've never seen anything like that," Merriman said. "There was a whole bunch of chaos just going around."
BGE said one of its crews struck an unmarked pipe, causing a water leak. That leak caused the steam line to rupture north of the struck water main on Eutaw Street.
The steam explosion caused pieces of gravel and roadway to explode, which injured four workers, three of whom were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Lawrence Inocencio, who came in from Ocean City for the Orioles game, said he's glad for a few things: no one got seriously hurt, he missed the water outage, and he won't be dealing with any of the road closures as a driver.
"I'm the tourist this time. In Ocean City, we get tourists every summer. I've been there with traffic and construction, especially this time of year, it's nice to be on the other side," Inocencio said. "Just to be chauffeured around."
BGE said the steam system in the area has been off since the explosion happened. Electric and gas services were never affected by what happened.
