Water pipe break on Memorial Highway slows traffic, business

TOWN 'N COUNTRY -- Commuters who travel near the intersection of Memorial Highway and Hillsborough Avenue should get an early start today or consider a detour.

Repairs on two southbound lanes of Memorial, south of Hillsborough, washed out by a water main break should be completed by tonight.

A 12-inch cast-iron pipe burst early Thursday, spewing thousands of gallons of drinkable water onto Memorial, snarling traffic and shutting down at least one business.

The break, which occurred about 5 a.m., was fixed by early afternoon; however, crews will need most of today to repave that section of roadway, said Sandra Anderson, consumer affairs manager with Tampa's Water Department.

Alternate routes include Webb Road to Hillsborough, and Waters Avenue or Hillsborough to the Veterans Expressway. Commuters coming from Oldsmar or Palm Harbor in Pinellas County are urged to avoid Hillsborough and instead take the Courtney Campbell Parkway.

Water officials said the 30-year-old pipe, which supplied water to businesses in the area, most likely failed because of its age. It spilled 1,200 gallons per minute for about three hours, Anderson said. City crews had repaired a 10-foot section of the main by 1:30 p.m., she said.

"The southbound side of Memorial looked like a river," said Jim Barca, manager of the Chevron service station at the corner of Hillsborough and Memorial. "Traffic backed up right away, and I lost 80 percent of my (morning) business."

Rush hour traffic was diverted through the Home Depot parking lot.

Across the street at Denny's restaurant it wasn't much better.

"When they had to turn the water off I had to close down," said Denny's manager, Rick Blake. "There's no bathroom, no way to wash your hands or dishes."

The restaurant and a half-dozen other businesses on Memorial were advised to boil their water for 24 hours.

A manager could not say when Denny's would reopen.

Officials expect the southbound lanes of Memorial to be open by this evening.

-- Jackie Ripley can be reached at (813) 269-5308 or ripley@sptimes.com.

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