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Downtown water main break closes roads, offices

Posted at 6:47 AM, Mar 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-20 12:36:33-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- A water main break has closed streets and offices in downtown Richmond.

The break is located along the 1500 block of East Main Street, in Shockoe Bottom, the Department of Public Utilities reported.

It is impacting traffic along Main Street at 14th and 15th streets.

The construction was also impacting traffic along Franklin Street at 13th, 14th & 15th streets at one point.

"Water is causing road to buckle," a department spokesperson wrote.

The break to the 8-inch pipe disrupted water service to some office buildings.

After announcing its closure earlier Tuesday, the State Corporation Commission announced water service had been restored. Workers were asked to report to work by noon.

The Virginia Department of General Services is open Tuesday, but parking might be an issue.

"The garage remains open, but [employees] will need to use 15th Street entrance," a spokesperson said. "The Tyler Deck also remains open but is accessible only from Bank Street."

State employees described the construction as one big headache.

"Right now where they have the traffic detoured into is crazy," Brad Bradley said. "It took me about half an hour what should've taken me just five minutes." 

Richmond Police and city work crews are on scene, but no timetable has been established for when the roads might reopen.

It's unclear exactly how the break happened, according to a Richmond Public Utilities spokesperson.

This is a developing story. Witnesses can send news tips and photos here.

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