A water-main break turned part of the Bronx into a sea today, flooding streets and causing headaches for commuters and residents.
The 36-inch pipe from 1903 broke around 4 a.m. near Jerome Avenue and East 177th Street. It was brought under control at 9:20 a.m. but the damage already had been done.
Cars were nearly submerged, the 4 train was shut down between 167th Street and Bedord Park Boulevard, bus routes were changed. The water damaged two nearby low-pressure gas lines, forcing Con Ed to shut off gas service for some.
“I can’t get to work. The train is shut down and I can’t afford a cab to Manhattan,” said lab technician Tonica Barnes, 20. “My boss is probably thinking that I am lying to him.”
A female resident at the Susan’s Place shelter said the building’s first floor was flooded, forcing residents out for at least the next two days.
“I don’t know where I’m going to go,” the woman said.
An employee at the CS Brown Supply Company on Jerome Avenue said that he was told he couldn’t report for work.
“They shut down all the businesses on the block. We have been sitting here for hours doing nothing,” said the worker, who did not give his name. “To be honest, I could be home now.”
Yankee Stadium was untouched by the rising water, ground crew members said. The Bombers are set to play the Mariners today at 1:05 p.m.
The bus routes affected include the BX1, BX2, BX3, BX18, BX32, BX36, BX40 and BX42.
Officials said there was no need for residents to boil their drinking water.
With AP