Roads remain closed in Pittsburgh's Strip District while crews repair water main break

A portion of Smallman Street in Pittsburgh’s Strip District remained closed Wednesday morning after a water main burst Tuesday night and flooded a large stretch of the busy corridor.

Crews continue to repair the break which has left Smallman Street closed to traffic between 15th and 17th streets.

Motorists are advised to use Liberty Avenue as a detour.

Emergency personnel, including firefighters, public works and water safety officials responded to the 36-inch water main break near the 16th Street Bridge shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority spokesman Will Pickering said.

They were able to isolate the break within about 90 minutes and begin repairs, he said.

BREAKING: Massive water main break in the strip district, this is right across from Lidia’s restaurant. pic.twitter.com/bN5gcDDWs0

— Michele Newell (@micheleWPXI) May 21, 2019

Officials did not provide an estimate for how long repairs may take, nor how long Smallman Street will remain closed.

It’s unclear what caused the break, which caused problems not only for drivers but also for nearby businesses.

Officials temporarily turned water off or lowered the pressure at places connected to the mainline’s water supply while crews prepared to make repairs, Trib news partner WPXI reported. Restaurants Lidia’s Pittsburgh and Gaucho Parilla closed early because their water was turned off.

Smallman is still under water — but it is receding. PWSA says there was a 36 inch water main break. Several restaurants, like Lidia’s & Gaucho have closed tonight because they don’t have water @WPXI pic.twitter.com/GQ7JqHNgLk

— Gabriella DeLuca (@GabriellaDeLuca) May 22, 2019

BREAKING: This is what the @StripDistrict looks like from the 16th Street bridge near Gaucho. The water is off and/or low for businesses in the area. @pgh2o @peoplesnatgas @GabriellaDeLuca #WPXI pic.twitter.com/ynabzZbOIh

— Gigi (@wpxigigi) May 22, 2019

A PWSA official told WPXI’s Gabrielle DeLuca that the flooding from the break was “so bad that it caused water issues all the way to Downtown.”

WPXI’s Michelle Newell described the area as looking “like a river flowing through the Strip District.”