Strip District water main repairs keep part of Smallman Street closed

A portion of Smallman Street in Pittsburgh’s Strip District remained closed Thursday for a second straight day because of a burst water main.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority isolated the break and is working round the clock on repairs. PWSA spokesman Will Pickering said repair work has been complicated by the size of the pipe - 36 inches - which had to be ordered, and difficulty in accessing to the break. The pipe is due to be delivered on Friday.

Smallman is closed between 14th and 17th streets.

Crews are working to restore one-way traffic as soon as possible and have worked day and night shifts for nearly 48 hours straight, according to PWSA. They’ve hauled 120 truckloads of debrise from the site.

The authority in February finished the $10 million replacement of all sewer and water lines on Smallman between 16th and 21st streets to accommodate redevelopment of the landmark Produce Terminal. The work impacted traffic on the street for more than six months.

Pickering said the pipe that burst vulnerable to breaks because of its age. He said Smallman was damaged by flooding and must be repaired before it can reopen. He could not provide an estimate for how long repairs might take.

Motorists are advised to use Liberty Avenue as a detour.