City crews fix water main break at Second and Washington Streets

COLUMBUS, Ind. - A water main break on Tuesday morning at the intersection of Second and Washington Streets led to the immediate closure of the area for about 14 hours.

A contractor working in the vicinity accidentally struck a water main while boring beneath the intersection. The area was closed so crews could investigate the cause, isolate the damaged section, and begin repairs.    

Columbus City Utilities and the contractor mobilized to contain the break. The dense network of underground pipes made it difficult to locate the exact point of failure, requiring crews to pump a substantial amount of water from the site before the damaged main was identified. The water was directed into a nearby storm drain to prevent localized flooding.    

By 5 p.m., crews had patched the main and begun site cleanup.    

In response to the incident, the Columbus Department of Public Works and the Columbus Police Department closed eastbound S.R. 46 (Second Street) at Brown Street. Eastbound traffic was rerouted to First Street and Brown Street.   

CPD reported just before midnight on Tuesday that Second Street had been reopened.