Here's How The Steam Pipe Explosion Will Impact Your Commute

CHELSEA, NY — A day after an underground pipe explosion in the heart of Manhattan's Flatiron District erupted like a volcano, spouting blistering steam 70 feet into the air, street and subway traffic remains snarled by the blast.

The 86-year-old steam pipe ruptured on Fifth Avenue at 21st Street at 6:39 a.m. Thursday, evacuating 49 buildings and leaving a 15-foot crater in its wake. After tests confirmed the explosion released material containing asbestos the city shuttered Fifth Avenue from 19th to 22nd streets for "several days" for cleanup and further testing.

Commuters should expect plenty of traffic delays, road closures and the presence of emergency responders in the area. The following streets are closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic:

• West 23rd Street from 6th Avenue to Madison Avenue
• 5th Avenue from West 23rd Street to West 17th Street
• Broadway from West 23rd Street to West 17th Street
• All crosstown traffic from 6th Avenue to Broadway from West 23rd Street to West 17th Street

Subway and bus riders face their share of commuting woes this morning with trains bypassing stations and bus delays. The MTA reports the following impacts to mass transit:

• MTA Subway R and W lines are bypassing the West 23rd Street station
• MTA buses:
  • Detoured - M1, M2, M3, M55, M23-SBS, X1, X10, X17, X27, X28
  • Delayed - BxM3, BxM4, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9, BxM10, BxM11, BxM18, QM21, BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4

Photo courtesy of Drew Angerer/Getty Images