A water main burst on Chicago's North Side on Thursday, sending water across a stretch of Bryn Mawr Avenue that, thanks to an arctic blast, froze almost as soon as it hit the pavement. Several parked cars wound up sealed in ice, leaving neighbors and city crews scrambling to clear the block.
Video from the scene shows the intersection of Bryn Mawr and California Avenues turned into a slick, glassy sheet of ice, with tires and bumpers locked in place in the frozen runoff, according to ABC7 Chicago. The National Weather Service had an Extreme Cold Warning in effect as arctic air kept temperatures well below freezing, which meant any standing water hardened quickly, according to NWS Chicago.
City officials told CBS Chicago the rupture occurred in an 8-inch cast-iron main that dates back to 1925, and that crews shut off water service to the Budlong Woods branch and three nearby buildings while they worked to isolate the damaged line. Officials said the outage could last several hours as repair teams worked to contain and fix the break.
Crews work to repair the line
Crews closed the block to traffic and focused on draining the standing water, so repair teams could safely reach the rupture. Police and water-management staff urged residents to steer clear of the area while the work continues, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Why the cold made it worse
KHOU noted National Weather Service data showing Chicago's temperature crept above freezing for only a very short window over the past three days. That stretch of near-continuous subzero air meant runoff from the break froze almost instantly, turning what would normally be a routine water main repair into a solid block of ice that trapped vehicles in place.
What drivers should know
If your car is encased in ice, avoid trying to chip it out yourself, since chiseling can shatter glass or gouge body panels. Call a tow company and contact the city's 311 for updates; crews will remove the ice and restore service once it is safe to do so.
Officials say they will post updates as repairs move forward and urged residents to follow local news outlets and city channels for the latest information.
