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Water-main break knocks out service, shuts down road
(by Sue Reid - February 24, 2010)
Water-main break knocks out service, shuts down road
By SUE REID
A 12-inch water main that ruptured last Friday in Solon's central business district resulted in the loss of water service to businesses and traffic issues, as well as closure of a portion of the road.
City officials said they expected to have the road open to traffic by Wednesday (Feb. 24). The break occurred in the eastbound lane of Solon Road at the intersection of Kruse Drive. The road was closed from SOM Center Road (Route 91) to Bainbridge Road, and detours were posted.
Public Works Director James S. Stanek said Monday the water main ruptured at about 9 a.m. Friday, and the Cleveland Water Department was unable to isolate it until about 4:30 p.m. that day. As a result, businesses in the immediate area were without water for the better part of the day.
"Once the break was isolated, it was an hour and a half (from 4:30 to 6 p.m.) that a large area was without water. That included those businesses in the Kruse Commons shopping plaza," he said.
The only exceptions were two businesses and some ancillary connections, he said, including Tabone Funeral Home and Max and Erma's restaurant, which did not have water service reinstated until 10 p.m. The restaurant closed that day for its lunch and dinner crowd.
"Everyone was back in service by 10 p.m.," he said.
Mr. Stanek said that once water was discovered shooting out of the pavement, the road was immediately blocked off from SOM Center to Bainbridge Road. The city was unable to make road repairs until the water break was repaired. The repairs to the pavement did not begin until about 7 a.m. Saturday, Mr. Stanek said.
He said the Cleveland Water Department eventually was able to find the right combination of valves to isolate the leak, and made holes in the pavement to alleviate the pressure.
The city will be responsible for repairing the road, Mr. Stanek said, and will be reimbursed by the Cleveland Water Department for the small area that was damaged.
"They will pay for the portion of the road they had to open to repair the leak," he said.
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