A major inconvenience for drivers, businesses and the public developed quickly on Tuesday morning at the intersection of Huron Street and Highbury Avenue North in northeast London. Shortly before 3 a.m., a water main gave way, leaving a large sinkhole. An extended closure of the intersection is expected, with the city saying in an update the intersection will remain closed for the remainder of Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. Water service is expected to be restored later Tuesday afternoon, while crews aim to complete paving on Wednesday. Responding crews shut the water off, and by morning were able to determine that an older cast iron pipe carrying drinking water had failed. “A 16-inch water main is not our biggest. It’s not our smallest either,” said Ian McCann, the city’s manager of maintenance and water construction operations. “The larger the pipe, the more water comes out and the more damage it causes.” As the old pipe was removed, McCann says plans were already underway to put a new one in the ground. “We’re prepared to get them all fixed up and back up and running as soon as possible,” he said. All the work caused frustration at the intersection, a busy commercial area. Throughout the day, motorists attempted to get around roadblocks to shop. Angela Knox was getting lunch when she discovered her favourite sandwich shop had no water. “No soup for me? Not today,” she commented as she tried to pull on the door. The break forced not only the soup and sandwich place to close, but also a pizza shop next door and a bank in the same plaza. Across the way, a popular hamburger restaurant could not operate. Some businesses were able to open, but customers were impacted by the closure. “I had to go all the way around McNay and all the way around down Cheapside. Kind of cut through Walmart. And here I am,” one customer said. McCann says he understands the frustration but ultimately concedes that water main breaks happen. “Sometimes they’re in very inconvenient spots. And this one just happens to be a pretty major intersection,” he said. “But we treat them all the same. We repair it to provincial standards so we can keep clean drinking water for all Londoners.” Just a few months ago, a water main break further up Highbury Avenue caused traffic disruptions. But scenes like it are not uncommon to Londoners. The most infamous water main break occurred nearly 20 years ago at Dundas and Wellington streets. Then, a 10-metre-deep sinkhole forced major downtown offices to close for a few days. McCann predicts that this time the response should be quicker. “Our crews will continue working until the water is restored to customers. And, ready to get asphalted and get this intersection back open,” he said.
