If your Wednesday morning drive on Congress Street suddenly went sideways, you were not alone. A short stretch of the busy downtown artery turned into a hazy scene after steam and smoke started rising from the pavement, prompting Boston police to shut down outbound lanes between Sudbury and North streets.
Aerial and ground video captured thick vapor pouring out of manhole covers and a section of the roadway, while officers on scene warned that a sinkhole might be forming. The shutdown quickly tangled traffic and sent pedestrians on detours as crews moved in to secure the area.
At 9:44 a.m., the Boston Police Department posted a traffic alert on X, writing, "Traffic Advisory: Congress Street will be shut down outbound between Sudbury Street and North Street." Boston Police Dept. urged drivers to steer clear and use alternate routes while crews checked out reports of smoke coming from the ground.
Utility Company Isolates Problem Steam Pipe
Vicinity Energy, the company that runs Boston's district steam network, said crews tracked the trouble to a small section of steam pipe on Congress Street at around 8 a.m. and quickly isolated that part of the system as a precaution. No injuries or property damage were reported, according to NBC Boston.
The company said it was in touch with a limited number of affected customers about any possible service disruptions and was working to restore full system functionality as safely and quickly as possible.
Why Steam Sometimes Erupts From City Streets
The unnerving sight of steam or smoke billowing from city streets is often tied to the underground steam network that supplies heat and hot water to downtown buildings. Vicinity Energy operates that system in both Boston and Cambridge.
These kinds of utility-linked incidents are not unheard of. Earlier this year, six manholes exploded on Newbury Street in February, forcing evacuations and causing temporary power outages, as reported by The Boston Globe. City officials pointed to that episode as a reminder of the risks that come with aging subsurface infrastructure.
Traffic Reopens, With More Work Still Ahead
Police reopened the shut-down section of Congress Street later in the morning after crews cleared and secured the scene, and officials said repair work and additional inspections would follow, according to NBC Boston.
Drivers heading into the Financial District are being told to brace for lingering delays while crews continue their assessments and to stick to alternate routes when possible.
