Campus Connection

Media Credit: Clarence Lam A water main break closed Lombard St. on the morning of February 15.

Update (Feb. 21, 2008): 

Repair efforts at the intersection of Lombard and Greene Streets have been complicated by the extensive damage caused by the water main break and a subsequent natural gas leak, according to Baltimore City officials.  Full completion of the repair and reopening of the streets is not expected until Saturday at the earliest and may be further delayed by inclement weather. 

"The water main was fixed over the weekend," said Kurt Kocher, a spokesperson for the city's Department of Public Works.  "But there was damage other other utilities." 

A conduit containing electrical cables was destroyed by the main break and undergoing repairs when a gas leak was detected.  Baltimore, Gas, and Electric (BGE) officials responded to the intersection on Wednesday. 

Article below first published Sunday, Feb. 17: 

On Friday, February 15, the 600 block of West Lombard Street was closed to vehicular traffic due to an apparent water main break.  Traffic, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours, was snarled for blocks despite the presence of traffic control officers as vehicles were rerouted to adjacent streets.  Emergency repair work on the water main is not expected to be completed before Tuesday, February 19. 

The main broke in the predawn hours with water flowing out of an area of the intersection of Lombard and Greene Streets that had been recently covered by a large metal plate following underground construction that had taken place several weeks earlier. 

Baltimore City officials were notified of the break at around 4:00 a.m. on Friday.  “We sent out crews immediately,” said Kurt Kocher, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Works. 

Westbound traffic on Lombard Street was detoured south on Greene Street.  Southbound Greene Street traffic was restricted to one lane in front of the University of Maryland Medical Center and prevented from turning west onto Lombard Street. 

By early Friday evening, workers at the intersection were seen crowded around a map while others pointed at areas of pavement for planned excavation.  On Saturday, a deep hole supported by wooden planks had been dug into the center of the intersection. 

Drivers faced new detours on Saturday as all southbound traffic on Greene Street was diverted east at Baltimore Street.  Westbound traffic on Lombard Street was reduced to one lane on approach to the affected intersection with all traffic redirected south onto Greene Street.  These detours are expected to remain in place throughout the remainder of the repair work. 

“It’s going to be closed at least through Monday and Monday night,” said Kocher. “And then we’ll have to go in and backfill the hole.”

Kocher said that nearby buildings including UMMC may have temporarily lost water or experienced discoloration of some water on Friday as repair work began.  “The interruptions were relatively minimal,” he said. 

The cause of the water main break remains under investigation. 

In late December through early January, the collapse of an underground vault led to the closure of Greene Street at the same intersection, often reducing rush hour traffic to a standstill.  Kocher said that it was unclear whether that collapse was related to this main break. 

“That one [the vault collapse] may have been related to the construction going on,” said Kocher.  “There’s still a full investigation that has to be done as to what impact the construction [of the nearby UMMC facility] is having.” 

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