Public works crews locate 6-inch split in water main

PALMER — Palmer Public Works Department crews began excavating a water main near the intersection of W. Beaver and N. Alaska streets that began leaking water early Sunday morning.

Public Works Deputy Director Greg Wickham said when crews exposed the pipe they found a stress fracture in the older 6-inch cast iron water main on West Beaver Avenue. He said the pipe split near where it connects to the new steel water main on Alaska Street.

Wickham said repair crews are working on the 6-inch pipe now and anticipate they will have water restored to the five affected houses in the 100 block of W. Beaver by 6 or 7 p.m. He said public works crews back fill the hole once water service has been restored.

Wickham said most of the 100,000 gallons of water that spilled Sunday morning went down nearby storm drains.

But the city of Palmer urges drivers to use extra caution when traveling on Arctic Avenue between Alaska Street to Bonanza.

Palmer Public Safety Dispatch received a call Sunday at 4:26 a.m. about the water leak and Public Works Department crews arrived a few minutes later.

But the water from the main traveled south on Alaska Street, and west onto Arctic Avenue and ice formed making Arctic Avenue from Alaska Street to Bonanza hazardous and icy, according to a press release Sunday from the city of Palmer.

The area has been sanded, but residents are urged to be very extra cautious driving in this area.

Contact Heather A. Resz at heather.resz@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.