Flooding closes part of Broadway, Boise avenues; police ask motorists to avoid area
Roads near the intersection of Broadway and Boise avenues closed Thursday due to a “large water main break,” according to Veolia Water Idaho and the Ada County Highway District.
The Boise Police Department, in a 9:30 a.m. tweet, asked the public to avoid the area, which is near the Bubb Canal, as crews “work to resolve the issue.” The Idaho Statesman reached out to Boise police seeking information and was directed to a tweet from the Ada County Highway District
The highway district, in a 10:55 a.m. tweet, said all the southbound lanes of Broadway Avenue and all but one of the northbound lanes remained closed. Additionally, Boise Avenue is closed west of Broadway, the tweet said. By 12:30 p.m., one of the southbound lanes reopened, but Boise Avenue was expected to stay closed for the rest of the day.
“The closures are expected to be in place through the rest of the day while crews work on repairs,” the highway district said.
Veolia Water Idaho, a water utility company in Ada County, said in a 10:35 a.m. email that the flooding was caused by a water main break. Veolia’s spokesperson Madeline Wyatt said its crews were on the scene and planning to break ground and dig down to the water main to work on the repairs. At 12:30 p.m., Wyatt said crews began working to remove and replace the broken 12-inch cast iron pipe.
“Repairs are well underway and expected to be completed this evening,” Wyatt said in a 3 p.m. email.
The water break has turned off some customers’ water, Veolia said, and could cause discoloration in the water for others. Veolia said the discoloration occurs in the pipes because the utility company is flushing out water mains to clear out the pipes, but that it’s “harmless sediment.” At 3 p.m. Veolia was flushing water in the Parkcenter and Pennsylvania area and continuing to check the water in hydrants for discoloration.
Wyatt said the company has already flushed water north and east of the incident.
Veolia said the company is working with the Idaho Transportation Department to coordinate road closures and traffic management.
“Veolia appreciates the patience of our customers and the community as we complete these emergency repairs at this high traffic location,” Wyatt said.
This story was originally published December 15, 2022 at 10:00 AM.
