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

Cambridge Water Main Break June 4, 2011

Saturday night June 4, 2011 a 30-inch water main broke on Broadway at Trowbridge Street in Cambridge MA. These images were captured at 6:30 AM Sunday June 5, 2011, as the clean-up began. Cambridge DPW employees were still working in the large hole dug to fix the water pipe. Also on site were Cambridge Water Department, Cambridge Police, Cambridge Fire Department and Mass Water Resources Authority. The private street cleaning service was present and began cleaning the two-inch deep mud from the sidewalk in front of the Library. The walk to the library front door was covered with mud to within 50 feet of the front entrance. The levee built to stop water from flowing into the parking garage under the library held. City officials reportedly expect to restore full water pressure by noon on Sunday June 5, 2011. A week later the hole was filled in, the pipe was repaired and the sidewalk was cleaned of mud.

Cambridge Police at Broadway and Ware Street



Street Cleaner Beginning on Sidewalk in Front of Library



The Levee Protecting The Library Garage



Hole in Street Opened to Repair Broken Water Pipe



Hole in Street Opened to Repair Broken Water Pipe



Pieces of Sidewalk Removed to Dig Bigger Hole



Angelo's Pizza Was Closed on Sunday Morning



One Piece of Construction Equipment



Brand New DPW Truck



Cambridge Water Department Automobile



Mud on Front Walk of Main Library



Cambridge Vehicles. Mud is Visible on Street and Sidewalk



Cambridge Police Traffic Van on Broadway



Cambridge Fire Department SUV



Cambridge Police at Broadway and Ellery Street



Street Sweeper Just Arriving



Water Pumps Still Working in Hole



Pumping Water and Scooping Dirt



Working With No Pizza



Mud Covers Some Crosswalk Stripes



Mud On Sidewalk



Big Foot Prints in Mud; Great Crime Scene



Mud Waves on Sidewalk



The Library Garage Levee




Sidewalk to Library Front Entrance All Cleaned Up



Temporary Fix to Hole Opened to Repair Water Pipe



Hole Filled in After Repairing Water Pipe



Hole Extended From Street Onto Sidewalk



Temporary Fix to Hole At Trowbridge Street and Broadway