WE’LL START THERE AT 4:00. I’M DAVID USHERY.
>> I’M NATALIE PASQUARELLA.
STREETS IN TIMES SQUARE STILL
CLOSED RIGHT NOW.
CREWS ARE BUSY MAKING THOSE
REPAIRS.
THE WATER AS YOU SEE WAS JUST
ABOUT EVERYWHERE 12 HOURS AGO.
THAT INCLUDES THE BUSIEST SUBWAY
STATION IN NEW YORK CITY.
IT MADE FOR A CHAOTIC MORNING
COMMUTE.
SERVICE WAS EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN ON THE 1, 2, AND 3 LINES.
BUT THOSE TRAINS ARE NOW BACK UP
AND RUNNING. HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT.
NEWS 4’S RANA NOVINI HIVE IN
TIMES SQUARE WITH THE LATEST ON
THE REPAIRS BEHIND YOU THERE,
RANA.
>> Reporter: YEAH, DAVID AND NATALIE, THIS REPAIR WORK HAS
BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR ABOUT 12
HOURS.
IT HAS BEEN QUITE AN
UNDERTAKING.
YOU CAN SEE CREWS HERE, THEY HAD
TO FIRST IDENTIFY WHERE THIS
BROKEN LINE WAS, THEN FIND IT,
DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE
DAMAGE, AND NOW THEY’RE WORKING ON REPAIRING IT.
BUT IT HAS CAUSED TRAFFIC DELAYS
THROUGHOUT TIMES SQUARE AND
SUBWAY DELAYS AS WELL AS TRAINS
WERE DELAYED ALL MORNING. BEFORE THE MORNING RUSH A RUSH
OF WATER.
A DOWNPOUR OF NEARLY 2 MILLION
GALLONS INUNDATING THE TIMES
SQUARE SUBWAY STATION. THE SUDDEN FLOOD THE RESULT OF A
WATER MAIN BREAK ON 7th AVENUE.
WATER FILLING THE STREETS IN THE
HEART OF MIDTOWN LEAVING
COMMUTERS CONFUSED.
>> QUITE SCARY IN THE SUBWAY BECAUSE WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED, IF THERE WAS AN
EXPLOSION ABOVE GROUND. >> Reporter: BY LATE MORNING
WITH THE WATER SHUT OFF REPAIRS
WERE WELL UNDER WAY.
ABOVE GROUND CREWS WORKED TO
REMOVE AND REPLACE THE BROKEN
PORTION OF A 20-INCH MAIN THAT’S
MORE THAN 125 YEARS OLD.
AND BELOW GROUND MTA WORKERS
CLEARING ALL THAT WATER TO GET THE 1, 2, 3 LINES RUNNING AGAIN.
WATER FLOWED FROM TIMES SQUARE DOWN TO 23rd AND 14th STREET,
CAUSING MAJOR DISRUPTIONS TO
THOSE LINES THROUGHOUT THE
MORNING.
>> IF THERE’S ANY GOOD NEWS IT’S WITH A WEEK BEFORE LABOR DAY,
TIP DLI THIS IS A LOWER
RIDERSHIP WEEK FOR US.
>> THE STREET WAS CLOSED OFF.
I COULDN’T ENTER THE STREET.
THEY TOLD ME TO GO AROUND THE
CORNER.
>> CELESTE RAMOS IS THE MANAGER OF THE PARIS BAGUETTE ON 7th
AVENUE NEAR 40th STREET.
THE MAIN BREAK CUTTING OFF THEIR
WATER SUPPLY BUT STAFF DOING
WHAT THEY CAN TO STAY OPEN FOR
BUSINESS.
>> WE DO HAVE A NEIGHBOR STORE,
SO THEY’VE BEEN HELPING US OUT,
LITERALLY AROUND THE CORNER.
WE’VE JUST BEEN BACK AND FORTH
ALL DAY.
THAT’S HOW WE’RE HAVING COFFEE.
WE’RE DOING COFFEE OVER DAY.
THAT’S HOW WE’RE USING THE
BATHROOM.
THAT’S HOW WE’RE WASHING UP.
>> Reporter: WHILE A McDONALD’S
RESTAURANT DECIDED TO CLOSE
ALTOGETHER.
NEXT DOOR AT FRAME GOURMET
EATERY STAFF IS MAKING DUE WITH
WATER ONLY AVAILABLE IN THEIR
DOWNSTAIRS KITCHEN, MEANING
UPSTAIRS THE DISHES ARE PILING
UP. >> IS THIS A HARDSHIP FOR YOU
GUYS? >> OF COURSE.
CAN’T DISH WASH.
>> Reporter: SO BACK OUT LIVE
HERE, AGAIN, REPAIRS ARE STILL
UNDER WAY.
IT’S UNCLEAR HOW LONG THAT WILL
TAKE, HOW LONG THIS STRETCH OF 7th AVENUE WILL BE CLOSED.
1, 2, AND 3 TRAINS ARE RUNNING
AGAIN WITH DELAYS BUT THE MTA
SAID EARLIER TODAY THAT THEY