A water main break in Times Square flooded streets and seeped into the subway system early Tuesday morning, shutting down roads in Midtown Manhattan and suspending some subway services.
Video footage shows water pouring down stairwells and onto platforms at the Times Square-42nd Street subway station. The flooding prompted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to partially suspend 1, 2 and 3 train service in Manhattan at least through the morning rush hour.
Times Square Alliance issued an alert: “As a result of the water main break, in addition to 7th Avenue being closed to vehicles from 42-39, W41, 40 and 39th Streets are closed to vehicular traffic from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue. Expect delays traveling through the area.”
“We’re working to clear water from and inspect tracks after a water main broke at Times Square. Avoid these trains if you can and take alternatives,” the MTA said on Twitter Tuesday morning.
Commissioner at NYC Water Rit Aggarwala told media at the scene that most buildings still have water service.
The cause of the water main break is under investigation. It’s believed that the incident happened during repairs to a 20 inch main dating from 1896. There is no estimate yet on when full subway service will be restored or streets reopened.
This is a developing story. We will update throughout the morning
