Water main break floods, damages part of Columbus Avenue in Boston: "It's a difficult time of year"

Columbus Avenue in Boston was still closed from Heath Street to Armory Street on the Roxbury-Jamaica Plain line Wednesday afternoon, a day after a water main break flooded the neighborhood. Repair work is expected to last into Thursday, the city said.

The Boston Fire Department said a three-foot wide water pipe burst just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, sending water gushing all over the street for hours, submerging cars and flooding nearby homes and business.

Firefighters helped three local day cares evacuate children. The pipeline takes drinking water from one side of the city to another and requires multiple gates to be closed to completely stop the flow of water. That took time and clogged drains let the water rise. 

"It's a difficult time of year, obviously the street sweepers aren't out as often, so the trash and the litter collects, clogs those drains up and that's what allowed the water to get up so high, so fast," said District Fire Chief Joseph Walsh.

The water finally receded overnight, but the pavement has buckled and the street is now covered in mud. Boston Police have closed it to traffic.

Angel Pena works in the apartment building behind the break. He said this is the second time this has happened in four years. 

"This is worse, 100 percent," Pena said. "Our office, three inches of water all over the place. Papers, computers, everything is wet."

The MBTA said the Jackson Square busway is temporarily closed. Route 14, 22, 29, 41 and 44 buses are being detoured. 

The Department of Public Works also brought sand in to cover any sections where ice formed in the cold temperatures. Officials said residents and businesses may experience low pressure and discolored water Wednesday.

Later Wednesday afternoon, Boston Water said repairs are underway for the 36-inch transmission main and crews are expected to work through the night and into Thursday.

Traffic is down to one lane at the intersection of Centre and RItchie streets in Jackson Square.