Crews fix Wyoming water main break

WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) - A 16-inch diameter water main ruptured Thursday afternoon, causing a massive hole to open on a Kent County road and water to flood an adjacent street.

Crews fixed the pipe on Saturday afternoon.

A 16-inch diameter water main ruptured Thursday afternoon, causing a massive hole to open on a Kent County road and water to flood an adjacent street.

The hole was on the westbound side of 44th Street, which remained closed until Saturday.

Previously-flooded Clay Avenue was also closed north of 44th Street to Louisiana Street for more than a day.

The roads didn't open until Saturday, city officials said, because a broken valve hampered repair efforts.

“One of the necessary valves has broken in a partially closed position, which means we are unable to shut off the water and make the needed repairs, which are taking much longer than they normally would,” explained William Dooley, director of the Wyoming Public Works Department, on Friday. "We have called in a company to assist us with the valve repair and expect to be able to start that process after noon (Friday) when we have the necessary supplies.

“We have gone door-to-door to affected businesses in this area. At this time, drinking water for residents in the area has not been affected, although they may still see water on the ground."

The broken main was constructed in the late 1960s, Dooley told 24 Hour News 8 on Friday. As older pipes age, the cast iron becomes brittle, and crews tend to see breaks during the winter months.

Dooley said they don't have the finances to replace all cast iron pipes with ductile iron all at the same time.

He estimated the street repair cost between $50,000 and $60,000.