[Updates below] Due to a major water main break on Broadway and East 23rd Street you should expect some serious delays on the N, Q and R lines. As of 11:20 a.m., the MTA says N/Q service is suspended between De Kalb and 57th and 7th or R service between Queens Plaza and Whitehall as the power has been turned off at the flooded station. Also? Expect a lot of traffic around Madison Square Park today.
The break appears to have happened a little after 10:40 a.m. and reports say that a large amount of water is flooding nearby basements (and entering the subway). The FDNY says they are on scene and though no injuries have been reported they did evacuate the 23rd Street station due to flooding. A rep tells us the DEP is "on their way."
According to the MTA, "Both directions R trains are running on the F line between 36 St Station (Qns) and 34 St-Herald Sq Station, then run on the D or N line in both directions between 34 St-Herald Sq Station and DeKalb Av Station. Allow additional travel time."
We'll update with more information as it comes.
Flood on Broadway in Flatiron. It's like a river! instagr.am/p/VMaoEiTPkY/
— Hilary Tuttle (@HilaryKTuttle) February 1, 2013
What was the flood like LIVE? Here's a video submitted to us by reader Nate Tavel:
And here's another bit of video:
Crews are also trying to prevent it from flooding this subway station. vine.co/v/b1eeKTzWKjO
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) February 1, 2013
Update 12:30 p.m.: While the DEP is still working on fixing the problem it appears the water main break is causing issues for much of downtown. We're hearing reports of greatly reduced water pressure and, in some cases, no water.
A reader writes in that "water is shut off in my tribeca office bldg, manager says its 'all downtown'" and Equinox gym just sent out an alert saying that its Spring Street location was dry (#WhyGod).
Update 1 p.m.: A DEP spokesperson tells us the problem started at approximately 10:45 a.m. when a 36" water main at 25th and Fifth Avenue broke. The reason that the 1915 pipe burst is still being investigated. While traffic has been closed on Fifth Avenue from 23rd Street to 24th Street, the DEP expects to start reopening some streets soon. As for water issues in lower Manhattan, they say that "everybody has water. We did shut down the water to stop the flooding. You may be experiencing low water pressure but it should be coming back now."
As for how long this will take to be fixed? "We have crews on location, they're digging in the street but we have no time frame for how long this will take."
Update 3 p.m.: The DEP says that they are still working to restore full water pressure. Meanwhile, if this photo tweeted by NYCTSubwayScoop is any indication there is still lots of water going into the tracks at 23rd Street! No seriously, here's video the MTA just released:
Update 4:20 p.m.: Due to the flooding, above, the MTA has made some changes to the N/R/Q trains:
N trains are operating in 2 sections between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd Station and Lexington Av Station then between Coney Island-Stillwell Av Station and Whitehall St Station.
Q trains are operating between Canal St Station and Coney Island-Stillwell Av Station.
R trains are running on the F line in both directions between 36 St Station (Qns) and 47-50 Sts/Rockefeller Ctr, then run on the D line in both directions between and 47-50 Sts/Rockefeller Station and DeKalb Av Station.
Expect delays