Major Water Main Break Floods Upper West Side

NEW YORK CITY — A massive water main break near Lincoln Center caused major subway delays Monday morning, officials said.

The break, reported around 5:30 a.m., sent water cascading through the streets near Lincoln Center, closing down Broadway from West 61st Street all the way up to West 72nd Street, according to officials and video.

Columbus Avenue was also closed going southbound starting at 72nd Street, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio around 9 a.m.

The water caused massive delays on the 1, 2 and 3 lines, according to the MTA. Trains were back up and running normally by 4 p.m., nearly 12 hours after the water main break sent 500,000 gallons into the subway system.

The Department of Environmental Protection turned off the water mains to stop water flowing into the subways and the MTA moved in with pumps about 8:15 a.m., officials said.

The break left residents and businesses on the west side of Broadway between 60th and 63rd streets without water and some buildings were without steam service as a precaution, the mayor said.

The flooded streets were for the most part clear by around 10 a.m., though dozens of transit workers and emergency responders were still in the area. Only two buildings, 61 and 62 West 62nd St., were still without water by 10 a.m., DEP said.

All 1 train service ran in two sections between South Ferry and Times Square-42nd Street and 96th Street and 242 Street-Van Cortlandt Park, the MTA said at 7:30 a.m.

The 3 trains also ran in two sections between New Lots Avenue and Times Square-42 Street and from Harlem-148 Street to 96th Street, according to the MTA.

Finally, 2 trains were rerouted to the 5 line between Nevins Street and 149 Street-Grand Concourse Avenue.

MetroNorth was allowing MetroCard holders to board at no additional cost at Marble Hill and Grand Central Terminal on the Hudson Line, the MTA said.

Transit officials said straphangers should also expect longer waits for A, B, C and D trains because of large crowds on the platforms.