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Water main break floods Coquitlam intersection

Broken water main has flooded the intersection at Glen Drive and Johnson Street
A broken water main is being blamed for flooding the intersection at Glen Drive and Johnson Street Wednesday morning.

 

A broken water main is being blamed for flooding the intersection at Glen Drive and Johnson Street Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

The damage was discovered shortly after 9 p.m. and crews worked to contain the water and open the road overnight. By Wednesday morning, traffic was slowly flowing southbound and the road was fully opened by 9:30 a.m.

"We have no idea what the cause was," said Jamie Umpleby, the director of public works. "It was a water main break… We do not know what caused the break. It is under investigation."

Water had flooded a nearby underground parking garage but Umpleby said there was no significant damage to private property. 

"It didn't enter the electrical room or the mechanical room," he said. "There is some clean up work that needs to be done. Other than that, we have not seen any significant damage."

According to a press release from the city of Coquitlam, residents in the nearby area may notice discoloured water coming from their taps this morning. The city advises people to clear their water by running their bathtub or shower tap on cold until the water is clear.

"This should clear the water for the entire home," said the press release. "This process is the same for residents living in apartments within the affected area."

The flooding snarled traffic in the area during the morning commute but the city had the intersection open at around 9 a.m.

More to come...