Midtown still a mess after water main break

NEW YORK The street is completely dug up this morning after the 20-inch main broke around 8:10 a.m. on Monday.

As a result, the westbound side of West 57th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues is completely closed. On the eastbound side only one lane of traffic is open. This will cause gridlock as the day progresses so drivers are advised to avoid this area.

Meanwhile, an emergency contractor hired by the Department of Environmental Protection responded to fix the leak.

Buildings inspectors and engineers have conducted structural assessments of four neighboring buildings that sustained water damage. The addresses of these buildings are:

1 West 57th Street, a 10-story mixed-use building

3 West 57th Street, a 12-story mixed-use building

7 West 57th Street, a 4-story mixed use building

9 West 57th Street, a 50-story office building

The inspectors and engineers determined that the four buildings did not sustain structural damage and were deemed to be structurally sound and not in danger of collapse.

Buildings Department operations at the site continue. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is in the process of digging up West 57th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue to determine whether the water main break undermined the sidewalk. Buildings inspectors and engineers will re-inspect the buildings after the sidewalk work is complete.