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Water main break closes major Cottman Avenue intersection in Northeast Philadelphia

Water main break closes major intersection in Northeast Philadelphia
Water main break closes major intersection in Northeast Philadelphia 02:42

A water main break shut down a Northeast Philadelphia intersection early Tuesday as crews worked to stem the flow of water bubbling up from the street.

Just before 2 a.m., the six-inch main broke at the corner of Cottman and Oxford avenues in the Burholme section of Northeast Philadelphia. Police cordoned off the intersection and diverted traffic.

Cottman Avenue was closed in both directions between Rising Sun Avenue and Palmetto Street for hours. Drivers were forced to navigate detours.

"I need to go dialysis in the morning and my ride pulls up in front of my house and the water main's right there in front of me," John White from Northeast Philadelphia said. "So we gotta make some kind of arrangements."

Crews were working on the scene through the 6 a.m. hour.

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Water bubbles out of buckling pavement at the intersection of Cottman and Oxford avenues. CBS News Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Water Department said seven properties were without water as of noon.

"It's challenging because it affects the people," Freeman Ileyemi, Apostle at Wordhouse Global Church, said. "You're going to affect the people from getting access to water they need."   

This is at least the fifth water main break we've had in just over a week in the city of Philadelphia. 

Another water main break occurred Monday afternoon, nearly four miles down Cottman Avenue at James Street, near State Road. Water was shut off Monday night and repair work was underway, the Philadelphia Water Department said.

A sign posted at Cottman Avenue and Bingham Street said that SEPTA is detouring buses on routes 67, 70 and 77 for a month, or until the city says the transit agency can resume operations there.

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CBS News Philadelphia.

"It's frustrating for regular people trying to go back and forth to work or home or whatever," Anne Corcoran from Northeast Philadelphia said. "Hopefully, like I said, they get it fixed soon and it goes back to normal tomorrow."

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