This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
At least 10 homes have been flooded along Salt Lake City's east bench after a large water main broke.
1700 South turned into a river after the 4-foot main erupted in the intersection of 1700 South and Foothill Drive about 8:45 p.m. Friday. Hundreds to thousands of gallons of water poured out into the road, with firefighters trying to divert the water by laying their largest hoses on the ground as blockades.
However, some of the water still flooded an early estimate of 10 homes, said Salt Lake City Fire spokesman Jasen Asay. Firefighters had also received a report of a smoking fuse box at the nearby Montessori Community School, at 2416 E. 1700 South. Crews were still assessing Friday evening how many homes and businesses have been affected and how much damage they suffered.
By 10:30 p.m., the city water department had shut down the water main. The public utilities department says that the shut-off will not affect residents in the area, according to a tweet from the fire department.
Foothill Drive has been shut down at 1700 South, according to the Utah Department of Transportation. UDOT expects the closure to last until at least 2 a.m. Saturday. Crews intend to assess any damage to 1700 South, given the huge amount of water that's poured over it.
The fire department was also concerned Friday evening about a large power line near the intersection, and had called in Rocky Mountain Power to keep an eye on that situation.
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