Water main break in Manhattan leaves South Street flooded during evening rush hour

A 30-inch water main break turned South Street under Manhattan’s FDR Drive into what looked like part of the East River on Monday, flooding cars and shutting down several city blocks.

The FDR Drive was not affected by the break, though it was already crowded from rush-hour traffic.

The break turned traffic in lower Manhattan into chaos for the evening rush on South Street near Catherine Slip, not far from the Brooklyn Bridge, just after 4:45 p.m.

The muddy water was as high as three feet in some places, rising above the doors of parked cars along South Street, as residents from nearby NYCHA’s Smith Houses took photos with their phones.

A large water main break on Catherine Slip in Manhattan under the FDR Drive, flooded South Street for eight blocks and left some vehicles in three feet of water. (Photo by Todd Maisel)

Worried NYCHA officials rushed to the scene, but found they had been spared flooding in the basements of the buildings closest to the break. A nearby storage facility however was not so lucky as water flowed into the basement, but electricity stayed on.

Police were forced to close most of South Street and arterial streets that lead into it, causing a traffic nightmare in and around the area during the evening rush.

Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted last night saying the break was being repaired.

This is de Blasio’s Tweet.

Con Ed crews were on scene shutting down steam pipes so they would not rupture. The break would cause some delays along South Street for the morning rush, officials said.

A large water main break on Catherine Slip in Manhattan under the FDR Drive, flooded South Street for eight blocks and left some vehicles in three feet of water. (Photo by Todd Maisel)

A large water main break on Catherine Slip in Manhattan under the FDR Drive, flooded South Street for eight blocks and left some vehicles in three feet of water. (Photo by Todd Maisel)