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The ramp to Exit 3 from southbound I-95 will be reopened at midnight and kept open during the Friday morning commute, offering at least some relief for drivers after massive traffic jams plagued the area Thursday, Greenwich Police said via Twitter @GreenwichCTPD.
But the repair work on the broken water main at Railroad Avenue and Arch Street is expected to continue until at least noon Friday, police said.
Flooded roads, scattered power outages and huge traffic backups made for frustrated residents, drivers, shoppers and workers after the water main break occurred in Central Greenwich just after 2 p.m. Thursday, police said.
Several lanes of the roadways were closed at the intersection due to the gushing water, Greenwich police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray said. The flood severely impacted traffic in the area, including cars entering and exiting I-95 at Exit 3.
"It's going to take a significant amount of time for the water company to repair it," Gray said. "We suggest that everybody avoid the area."
Greenwich police, fire, DPW and representatives from Aquarion Water Co. were on the scene, he said. "This will be an extended period that the repairs will take place," Gray said.
All southbound traffic was stopped on Arch Street from Greenwich Avenue as well as on Railroad Avenue between Greenwich Avenue and Field Point Road. Police warned drivers to avoid the area if possible until repairs are complete.
While what exactly caused the 8-inch water main to break has yet to be determined, drastic temperature shifts may have caused pipes and their surroundings to warp and crack, Aquarion Water Co., which owns the water main that runs under Arch Street, told GreenwichTime.com.
"We have to fully excavate first, but given the weather we've had, it going from freezing cold yesterday to warmer today is often enough to do it," Aquarion spokesman Peter Fazekas told GreenwichTime.com.
Read the full GreenwichTime.com article here.
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