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Home » Crime » This Article

2 Lanes of I-8 East Opened in Wake of Burst Pipe in Mission Valley

Posted by Ken Stone on September 14, 2017 in Crime | 2308 Views
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Caltrans workers repair a water main break on eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley.
Caltrans workers repair a water main break on the edge of eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone

The two left lanes of eastbound Interstate 8 near Interstate 5 were opened before 6 p.m. Thursday, but the California Highway Patrol said lanes 3 and 4 would stay closed for an “extended amount of time.”

Westbound traffic on Interstate 8 passes scene of burst water pipe.
Westbound traffic on Interstate 8 passes scene of burst water pipe. Photo by Chris Stone

A water line ruptured under the southern edge of Interstate 8 in Mission Valley, causing a spectacular geyser that flooded the freeway, dug a yawning hole in the pavement and shut down eastbound lanes for close to six hours.

Motorists hit their brakes, stared in awe and fired up their cellphone cameras as a plume of water began spewing about 20 feet into the air on the southern edge of I-8 near Hotel Circle South shortly after noon.

CHP Officer Jake Sanchez told reporters that I-8 east would remain closed until the water was turned off and damage assessed. About 2:45 p.m., CHP was told the water was shut off.

“Pack your patience as much as possible,” he said. “It’s going to be a longer commute than normal today.”

A two-mile stretch of I-8 was affected.

The overflow excavated a hole about 8 feet wide in the roadway, according to the CHP, which responded by closing down the entire eastbound side of the freeway.

With traffic backing up heavily throughout the area, authorities eventually decided to direct motorists stuck on the freeway to turn around and double back on the southern shoulder, then exit at Taylor Street.

Crews cleaning the two left lanes of EB I-8 at Taylor St. Once complete crews will reopen to traffic. pic.twitter.com/n4pkHG85r0

— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) September 15, 2017

Update: Two lanes have reopened on EB I-8 at Taylor St.

— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) September 15, 2017

No vehicles were damaged when the flooding first appeared, Sanchez said.

City spokesman Arian Collins said a series of 16-inch watermain breaks along Morena Boulevard may have led to the 8-inch pipe failure under the freeway.

The first, around 9:30 a.m., was at Savannah Street and Morena, followed by breaks at Frankfort and Knoxville streets, he said of the possible “domino” effect.

“This is the most I’ve seen happen at one time,” Collins said. “I’ve been here for 20 years.”

He said the flooding wasn’t due to a classic sinkhole, but soil washed away by the burst pipe.

The quick-succession main breaks were not just mere coincidence, according to Collins.

“How exactly they’re related, we’re not sure yet,” he said. “They are more than likely related.”

As of early Thursday evening it was unclear how long it would take crews to repair the broken pipelines and reopen all affected roadways, but Collins said repairs would “take all night at least.”

Collins said some Morena businesses lost water, and expected some hotels in Mission Valley to lose water as well.

Caltrans officials are assessing the whole freeway after a water main break opened a sinkhole on I-8. LIVE: https://t.co/D1g1djXoWp pic.twitter.com/FpD7Bi64f8

— #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) September 14, 2017

— Contributing Photographer Chris Stone and City News Service contributed to this report.

Westbound traffic on Interstate 8 passes scene of burst water pipe.
Westbound traffic on Interstate 8 passes scene of burst water pipe. Photo by Chris Stone
Caltrans crews surveyed scene of water pipe break on eastbound I-8.
Caltrans crews surveyed scene of water pipe break on eastbound I-8. Photo by Chris Stone
Water flows from a water main break on eastbound Interstate 8.
Water flows from a water main break on the side of eastbound Interstate 8. Photo by Chris Stone
Television crews prepare for broadcast in the middle of eastbound Interstate 8
Television crews prepare for broadcast in the middle of eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
Caltrans workers repair a water main break on eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley.
Caltrans workers repair a water main break on the edge of eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
Caltrans workers repair a water main break on eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley.
Caltrans workers repair a water main break on the edge of eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
All lanes of eastbound Interstate 8 were closed as water from a main break.
All lanes of a section of eastbound Interstate 8 were closed for nearly 6 hours in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
Water floods onto the eastbound Interstate 8
Water floods onto the eastbound Interstate 8 lanes after a water main burst. Photo by Chris Stone
All lanes of the eastbound Interstate 8 was closed due to a water main break
All lanes of a section of eastbound Interstate 8 were closed for nearly 6 hours in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
All lanes of the eastbound Interstate 8 was closed due to a water main break
All lanes of a section of eastbound Interstate 8 were closed for nearly 6 hours in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
All lanes of the eastbound Interstate 8 was closed due to a water main break
All lanes of a section of eastbound Interstate 8 were closed for nearly 6 hours in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
All lanes of the eastbound Interstate 8 was closed due to a water main break
All lanes of the eastbound Interstate 8 were closed for nearly 6 hours in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
Traffic backs up on Camino Del Rio South
Traffic backs up on Camino Del Rio South as drivers take surface streets when eastbound I-8 was closed. Photo by Chris Stone
Caltrans workers repair a water main break on eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley.
Caltrans workers repair a water main break on the edge of eastbound Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. Photo by Chris Stone
2 Lanes of I-8 East Opened in Wake of Burst Pipe in Mission Valley was last modified: September 15th, 2017 by Ken Stone

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