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Posted on Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 5 p.m.

Water main break affecting traffic on northeast side of Ann Arbor

By Cindy Heflin

Plymouth Road is still closed following a water main break near Barton Drive in Ann Arbor this morning.

About 5 p.m., City of Ann Arbor project engineer Igor Kotlyar said the contractor who accidentally broke the main was working to repair it, but he did not know how much longer the process would take.

The road is closed between Barton Drive and Broadway, Kotlyar said. Motorists are being detoured onto Barton Drive and Broadway, he said.

Kotlyar said residents in the area may have noticed some low water pressure immediately after the break about 10:30 or 11 a.m., but the affected area of the water main was quickly isolated, and now the only customers' without water are the Victory Lane Oil Change, Wendy's and possibly one other business.

Kotlyar said the road was flooded immediately after the break of the 20-inch water main. He said the contractor that broke the line is working to install a new water main in the area.


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Comments

KJMClark

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 9:08 p.m.

I went through that area (by bike, on the sidewalk for a change) around 6:45pm. The water was mostly gone. They were using a sump pump to help drain the large crater that was left behind under Plymouth Rd. Apparently they really need to replace the main there. That seems like the third time in the past year that pipe has broken. The last time it left the road severely buckled, which was probably why they set up the impromptu road construction / water main replacement area there.

huh7891

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:10 p.m.

Yesterday it was "flying cars" today "floating cars" what next???

say it plain

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 6:19 p.m.

So, given that there is no 'press release' listed (the tab in the a2gov.org 'water treatment' section says, as of 7:15pm, "we have no press releases at this time") on the AA city gov site, is there no need to boil water?!

nmots

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 6:14 p.m.

I have photos and video if you are interested.

nmots

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 6:08 p.m.

The section of Traver Creek that runs directly behind Traver Knoll apartments has been buried in sand rushing down from the drainage pipe. It looks like the sand could be a foot or deeper directly under the pipe. It's still rushing through the pipe now. I walked up that area and talked to they guys working directly above that area. They expect to be there till about 11 PM tonight.

Sandman

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 5:29 p.m.

Maybe backhoes should be illegal in Ann Arbor...it sure did cause a lot of damage to our utopian society. Someone call City Council and tell them we have another topic for them. Of course, look at the bright side, all that water sure did clean the street and the bottoms of a lot of cars.

samantics

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 5:21 p.m.

The entire downstairs of the Traver Knoll apartments affected by this was covered in what I hope is mud. Considering the severity of this water main brakage, I am just going to assume that there is a boil water advisory, even though none is issued as far as I know. (I wonder why...)

Brian McPherson

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 5:13 p.m.

I was one of the last cars to 'make' it through this before they managed to shut the water off. It got so bad my car ended up sucking a bunch of water into the engine. Then someone tried to go around me but discovered there was a giant ditch on that side... After the nice guy in the truck pushed me out of the river I ended up spending the next half hour or so bailing the water out of the engine.

Jorie O'Brien

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 3:10 p.m.

The road was like a very muddy, fast-moving river around 11:30 AM. While waiting our turn to ford the road, we witnessed a construction barrel whisked away by the current

Stephanie

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 3:08 p.m.

Yeah I drove through this today. It's really bad. I feared for my car.

Stephen Landes

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 3:04 p.m.

Why the preference for text when a good drawing or even a google map would provide a lot more information a lot faster? Show us a map and the route that the AAPD wants people to use to avoid the area.

DexterDad

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 2:41 p.m.

Any reports of 'boil water' alerts? Impact to surrounding neighborhoods? Impact to housing on North Campus? Let's do some reporting people!!! I can sit at my desk and view Google Maps.

genericreg

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.

Tahnk you Edward for good information

DagnyJ

Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 1:29 p.m.

Like Northeast AA needs more traffic problems....