Cambridge Water Main Break Broadway at Prescott Street

[Announcement from Cambridge City government]

City of Cambridge crews are working to shut down an active water main break in the vicinity of Broadway and Prescott Streets. Residents and businesses in this area may experience a drop in water pressure, possible loss of water or slight discoloration. Crews are working to repair this break as soon as possible. Traffic is being diverted around this location. For any updates, check back to

htpp://www.Cambridgema.gov.

[Later announcement]

City of Cambridge crews have repaired a water main break in the vicinity of Broadway and Prescott Streets and water service has been restored.

[My report]
Thursday September 8, 2011 about 2:00 PM a water main broke at the intersection of Broadway and Cambridge Street in Cambridge MA. It is only two blocks from the massive break at Trowbridge Street and Broadway on June 3, 2011. Here are some images captured at about 5:30 PM. It is alongside of the major renovation project of Harvard University's Fogg Museum at the same intersection. It is also the same site as a repeated gas leak over 10 years in the same intersection. NSTAR trucks can be seen in some of the images.

A city employee reported that there were additions to the original pipe and that the vibrations from the Fogg Museum construction probably contributed to this break.

NSTAR opened that spot about eight times over ten years looking for a gas leak at that intersection. That digging had an effect on the pipes too.

By 11:30 PM on Thursday the pipe was repaired and the hole was closed.

Opening a hole to get to the pipe.



Cambridge Water Department Opens the Hole



Cambridge Water Department



Cambridge Water Department



Breaking through the asphalt



WHDH-TV Channel 7 Boston NBC affiliate cameraman



Police divert traffic at Prescott Street at Harvard Street



Cambridge Water Department vehicle



NSTAR Trucks and workers



Police divert traffic at Felton Street and Cambridge Street



Traffic leaving the Harvard garage on Felton Street must go to Ware Street to leave the area.



Hydrant open at Ware Street and Broadway to relieve pressure? No young people were seen bathing or playing in the water. Air temperature was about 61 degrees.



Police divert traffic at Broadway and Trowbridge Street, scene of major break in June 2011.



Police vehicles diverting traffic out of Felton Street to Ware Street.



NSTAR, Cambridge Police and Water Department vehicles on Broadway.



Cambridge Water Department vehicle. Fogg Museum construction can be seen in rear of image.



Water Department workers using a jackhammer to open a hole.



Worker and jackhammer



View of Broadway toward Quincy Street, where Cambridge police divert traffic



Police divert traffic at Quincy Street at Broadway



Site of water main break, gas leak and Fogg Museum construction



Water department directing shovel