Residents and commuters in west downtown OKC are grappling with road closures and reduced water pressure following a major water main break reported yesterday morning. According to the City of Oklahoma City, the 36-inch main, situated near Pennsylvania Avenue and NW 6th Street, burst and has consequently disrupted the routines of many in the surrounding neighborhood.

While Oklahoma City Line Maintenance teams are working diligently to manage the repairs, complications have emerged. The main lies in the oldest part of the city's extensive water distribution system, layered in time-worn records that challenge the accuracy necessary for a swift resolve. City of Oklahoma City, with over 4,000 miles of water mains sprawling across 621 square miles, must now rely on specialty equipment for fixing a water artery of such magnitude and age. According to the city's update, this machinery is expected to arrive late this afternoon.

The breakdown has necessitated several road closures, which includes the eastbound lane of Main Street between Virginia and Pennsylvania Avenues, Northwest 10th Street between Barnes and Villa Avenues—though still open one way in both directions—and all lanes of Pennsylvania Avenue between Main Street and Northwest 7th Street, "until further notice," as reported by the City of Oklahoma City. With these streets sitting underwater, crews are racing against the clock, planning to extend their efforts into the wee hours of Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Despite the arrival of the much-needed specialized equipment, the City of Oklahoma City has ruled out any predictions on when the repair will be finalized or when normal water pressure will be restored to the area. For those affected, the City of Oklahoma City Utilities Customer Service line at (405) 297-2833 remains open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., also addressing water and sewer emergencies around the clock.