Roads Reopened, Water Flowing In Yonkers After Water Main Break
YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- There's good news for New York commuters: The Cross County Parkway and all but one lane of the Saw Mill River Parkway have reopened as workers have repaired a water main break in Yonkers.
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One southbound lane of the Saw Mill River Parkway between the Cross County Parkway and McLean Avenue remains closed.
The break happened around noon Monday when a private contractor running fiber optic cable under ground hit the main. When it broke, thousands of people lost service.
The repairs were slowed by a type of metallic arteriosclerosis that changed the shape of the inside of the pipe and made it impossible to shut down the water flow, meaning it continued to flow throughout the entire repair.
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Water is also now flowing to the majority of residents and businesses. Although, Mayor Mike Spano said the boil water advisory remains in effect.
"Once our water is up [and] online, which it's going on right now, then they will test the water. It takes 24 hours to test the water. So, we're looking at least til Friday," he told WCBS 880 reporter Monica Miller.
The pipe work is done.
City officials said the fire department is now in charge of opening up about a thousand affected hydrants to balance the pressure in the pipes.
"You also have the problem of what they call air pockets, which can cause their own damage," Spano said.
Residents are advised to boil water before drinking it or using it to prepare food. Cases of bottled water are being provided to senior housing facilities.
The city is also giving away water at the following locations:
· Riverdale Avenue and Prospect Avenue
· Third Police Precinct (435 Riverdale Avenue)
· Broadway and McLean Avenue
· Lefferts Road
. Travers Avenue
· School 13 (195 McLean Avenue)
Anyone with questions can call the city's help line at 914-377-4357 or visit the city's website at www.yonkersny.gov.
The total cost to Yonkers to mop up this mess is unclear.
As he looks at closing a potential $120 million deficit, Spano said he's hopeful the state DOT and insurance companies covering the private contrator they hired to lay down fiber-optic lines will cover the bill.
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
