Watermain break floods Biscayne Blvd.

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Traffic is flowing once again on Biscayne Boulevard after a watermain break forced road closures.

The watermain break forced the partial closure of Biscayne Boulevard between Northeast 38th and 33rd Streets, just before the evening commute Friday.

According to Miami Fire Rescue, it appeared that a construction crew struck a pipe, rupturing it at around 1 p.m. "As our units arrived, it was more than just a simple leak, it was a big leak," said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Ignatius Carroll.

At one point, all lanes had to be closed to traffic in the area, but by 4 p.m., the northbound lanes had opened. The southbound lanes were re-opened later in the evening. Miami Police Chief John Timoney said, "It couldn't have happened at a worse time for the evening traffic trying to get home, the day before Halloween."

Thousands of gallons of water poured out of the construction area along the street and into several businesses' parking lots, including an exotic car lot where some parked cars had water up to the bottom of their doors. "If that water flows in there you could mess up all the computers and all hell good break loose," said Ray Ramirez of American Auto Rental.

A backhoe at the construction site could be seen partially submerged along the road. The project consultant explained that a crew had attempted to remove another pipe with that backhoe when it hit the watermain by accident.

A steady flow of water continued to pour all the way out to Biscayne Bay during the leak, turning the ocean near shore gray as it stirred up silt at the bottom of the bay. "We understand this is all potable water, so there's not contamination at all. This is not sewer water," noted Carroll.

Still, a precautionary but temporary boil water order for several businesses had to be issued. Water pressure disappeared at the businesses affected by the leak. "We can't open because there's no water," said Henry Patel of the Midtown Inn Motel.

Mario Canas of the Red Carpet Inn added, "We have no water in the building, so we had to let our customers go."

City of Miami Police diverted traffic to Miami Avenue and Northeast Second Avenue. "Right now, the only thing we can do is divert the traffic," said Timoney. "We have units blocking off the street until they can hopefully get the water stopped."

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