Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
UPDATE: Water Main Breaks Near Lincoln Center, Creating Monday Commuting Mess
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 13, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Jen Chung / Gothamist
View all 17
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 13, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A water main broke on Broadway just north of Columbus Circle before dawn today, creating a temporary lake outside of Lincoln Center and snarling Monday morning commutes. Update: The MTA hopes to have service back to normal for the 4 p.m. commute, "The water in the system has now been drained and pumped and we are in the process of inspecting the impact area which stretches across four stations from 59th Street-Columbus Circle to 79th Street. Seventy two signals and 12 switches will be inspected to ensure they are functioning properly."
By 3:21 p.m., the MTA Tweeted, "It'll take time to get trains & crews into place for rush hour, but we expect full service for most of rush."
Just before 4 p.m., the MTA announced, "We have now restored limited service on 1, 2, and 3 lines. Riders should expect significant residual delays before the resumption of normal rush hour service." [More below.]
The break occurred around 5 a.m., and the MTA was forced to suspend subway service along the 1, 2, and 3 lines between Upper West Side stations—and then briefly suspended service in Manhattan and Brooklyn. (Buses have also been rerouted.) Currently, service is being run in two directions or rerouted along the lines—there is no service between Times Square-42nd Street and 96th Street on the 1 or 3; the 2 is running on the 4/5:
The sidewalk on the west side of Broadway, between 62nd and 63rd Streets, looked like it had erupted, with debris spilling onto the street.
The sidewalk near Broadway and 62nd Street.
Jen Chung / Gothamist
Water flooded Columbus Avenue from West 62nd Street towards West 65th Street, with authorities shutting down streets to traffic as the water rushed over the sidewalks and steps outside Lincoln Center and across the street at Dante Park. With the Lincoln Center subway station out of service, people were walking through Lincoln Center to get to work, school, or to another subway station.
After 8 a.m., the Department of Environmental Protection confirmed that water had been shut off. A spokesman said that the "remaining water on the street should drain into the sewer system fairly quickly. Crews will proceed with water main repairs."
There are now "subway straws" involved: MTA added, "The Department of Environmental Protection has stopped the water flowing into the subway system, and our maintenance teams are now moving pumps into place to remove water from the tracks."
Update: MTA spokesman Tim Minton offered details about how the agency learned of the water main break and how they prepared. In a statement, he said, "At 4:57 a.m., there were the first indications that a city-owned water main erupted between 62nd and 63rd Streets. We received the first reports from train operators at 5:00 that there was water in the system. Then at 5:02, we alerted our crews that there would be route modifications as a result."
“When this incident began, a single northbound 1 train was stuck in the tunnel for 15 minutes, just south of the 66th Street station. It was gradually moved north so that the first three cars were in the station. Customers were then safely evacuated onto the platform. At 5:45 a.m., power was cut so that transit workers could safely begin pumping out water. By the time the city shut off the water, there were approximately 500,000 gallons of water remaining in the subway system.
“The level of water rose above the third rail, making conditions dangerous to operate trains. The site of the break was adjacent to an emergency hatch for the Broadway line, which allowed water to quickly pour into the tunnel. Water also came in through several nearby vents.
In addition to suspending and diverting service along the 1, 2, and 3 lines, Minton explained, "We have deployed extensive resources in the Infrastructure, Track and Signals Departments, as well as cleaners, to address the situation. The water in the system has now been drained and pumped and we are in the process of inspecting the impact area which stretches across four stations from 59th Street-Columbus Circle to 79th Street. Seventy two signals and 12 switches will be inspected to ensure they are functioning properly. Our current expectation is that service will be restored to normal levels by the evening rush, beginning at 4 p.m."
The DEP said that water was restored to customers.
Tagged
we the commuters
Upper West Side
water main break
columbus circle
department of environmental protection
lincoln center
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Hochul names NY AG James as special prosecutor on alleged rape case at Cornell University
The governor said she does not have faith that the police and the Tompkins County DA effectively investigated the case.
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 9:04 p.m. ET
Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults
Joseph LoGiudice is the second therapist at Liberation Psychotherapy to be accused of sexually abusing a patient.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults
Joseph LoGiudice is the second therapist at Liberation Psychotherapy to be accused of sexually abusing a patient.
By
Giulia Heyward
US judge in NY indefinitely blocks ICE from making arrests at immigration courthouses
By
Arya Sundaram
Lawyer challenging NYC rent freeze releases Mamdani officials’ emails and text messages
By
David Brand
Push to strengthen NY sexual assault laws gathers steam after Cornell rape allegations
By
Walter Wuthmann
and
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .