ATLANTA — UPDATE | Peachtree Street NW has now reopened following days-long repairs after a water main break caused a large sinkhole, impacting residents, businesses, and drivers in the area.
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management says all lanes are safe and clear for vehicles, and water service has been restored to area homes and businesses after the six-inch break was repaired.
Multiple lanes were impacted by the closure that stretched from 1812 Peachtree NW between Palisades Road NE and 26th Street NW.
Original story: Delays are set to continue into the end of the week to repair a water main break and sinkhole, according to local officials.
The sinkhole happened on Peachtree Street on Monday, and crews have now said a six-inch water main break happened in the same area at 1812 Peachtree NW between Palisades Road NE and 26th Street NW.
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management released the following statement, saying:
"The Department of Watershed Management crew will continue to work through the day on the road restoration. We are optimistic that the necessary repairs to the road will be completed by tomorrow, weather permitting. Traffic control measures and signs will stay in place to guide motorists around the work zone. Residents and businesses within the work zone will continue to have access to their homes, mail and package delivery, emergency services, and trash pick-up. Motorists are urged to use caution and avoid the area if possible.
The city's infrastructure, which has been in place for a century, is susceptible to water main breaks due to various factors. Our primary objective is to maintain our critical assets and modernize our infrastructure by continuing to invest in them. This will ensure that our city's residents and businesses receive uninterrupted access to essential services and safeguard public safety.
DWM is currently investigating the reported phone call to identify the root cause of any miscommunication that may have occurred. DWM is committed to protecting and safeguarding the health and safety of our customers throughout the City of Atlanta. We apologize for any inconvenience this issue has caused impacted businesses and residents."
Watershed officials said on Tuesday evening that residents and businesses who faced service disruptions should be ok now. The city has not said what led to the incident.
Traffic signs are in place to help drive through the work, but of course, officials are asking drivers to avoid the area if possible.
The manager of Sufi's Kitchen, located at 1814 Peachtree Rd., told 11Alive's Cody Alcorn on Monday night that this had been an ongoing issue, and crews began working to repair the sinkhole after their sign fell into it.
A neighboring business, R. Thomas Deluxe Grill, added that water has been leaking for over a month.
Atlanta City Councilman Howard Shook, who represents District 7 and serves as vice chair of the Utilities Committee, said the city has poured about $3 billion into infrastructure repairs over the last two decades. He said the city is also under a federal consent decree to focus on fixing sewer lines first.
"When these pipes break or split, it's not something that's been in the ground three years," Shook said. "It's something that's been in the ground 20 years past life cycle. The drinking water side as been hand to mouth in terms of what gets fixed and refurbished. That's where most of the problems tend to be."
Earlier this month, Atlanta City Council passed a measure that would let voters decide to extend a local options sales tax. If voters decide to greenlight the referendum in May, the SPLOST will continue to fund projects like getting century-old infrastructure repaired or replaced.
"It’s not new. People have been paying it, used to paying it," Shook said. "If that spigot is cut off, there’s going to have to be a rate increase. There’s no way around that. Plus a sales tax is a way to capture revenue from the other half of our population that comes in here every day but then they leave.”
Shook also wants the city to ask federal officials for an extension to finish certain sanitary projects to free up more money to fix other water woes. Meantime, crews expect to finish repairs on Peachtree Road by Wednesday, weather permitting, and Connor Browning can't wait to get back to business as usual. He works at Bell Street Burritos, which had to shut down for over 24 hours while crews were making repairs. The restaurant finally reopened Wednesday morning.
“Since they have repaired it, our water pressure has kicked up a little bit compared to what it was prior," Browning said. “The swift response and the way the team has reacted to it gives me some confidence moving forward. As for critical infrastructure in all of Atlanta, we need to make sure we have that money there."