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BUSINESS
Water main break causes headaches for Ashland area
City workers Shawn Baldwin, left, and Dale White close a water valve to stop the water flow to a ruptured 12 inch water main break that occurred Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at the intersection of Winchester Avenue and 43rd Street in Ashland.
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ASHLAND -- U.S. 23 reopened Thursday morning after a major water main break closed the busy road and sent hundreds of students home from school.
The incident happened about noon Wednesday on Winchester Avenue (U.S. 23) at 43rd Street.
All four lanes of U.S. 23 were closed. City Manager Steve Corbitt said the 12-inch water main that broke provides water to the city of Catlettsburg, Marathon's refinery complex south of Catlettsburg and thousands of homes in South Ashland.
Corbett didn't have an estimate on the number of homes and businesses impacted by the water line break. "A number of homes lost water service and thousands had lower water pressure, but the break was valved off and the pressure is coming back up."
Dianne Clement, senior communications representative at the Marathon refinery complex south of Catlettsburg said the company was told to expect lower water pressure Wednesday afternoon.
"It hasn't caused any problems yet," she said Wednesday evening. However, her commute home was extended about 15 to 20 minutes when she detoured around the water line break. "These things happen," she said. "You just have to deal with it."
The city of Ashland did an excellent job communicating with the business and getting signs out telling trucks to detour around the water line problems, Clement said.
No boil water order was issued since the city was able to isolate the break and get water in other lines. "We may have a boil water advisory when we replace the line late tonight or early tomorrow," Corbitt said.
While thousands of customers in Catlettsburg and South Ashland were impacted with low water pressure or no water pressure, a number of residents had no problems.
Boyd County Circuit Judge C. David Hagerman said the Boyd County Courthouse wasn't affected.
Butch Goheen, of 1325 55th St., said he had good water pressure at his house. Roger Hensley, a Catlettsburg resident, also had no problem with his water pressure.
The water pressure at Al Gehringer's house in South Ashland, was down a little, but he still had plenty of water pressure.
Verity Middle School, Charles Russell Elementary, Oakview Elementary, Hager Elementary and Hatcher Elementary schools all were closed early and students sent home about 1 p.m. due to the lack of water pressure, said Ashland Superintendent Steve Gilmore.
"It was a stressful situation, but we called the bus drivers and parents and everyone's home safe," Gilmore said. Students at Paul G. Blazer High School and Poage Elementary and Crabbe Elementary weren't impacted by the water problems and closed at the regular time, he said.
All four lanes of U.S. 23 were closed between 39th Street and 55th Streets.
"We've isolated the bad section and the water level in the tank has quit dropping," Corbitt said. "A lot of people have no water pressure or low water pressure. The pressure should start to get better."
An old cast iron pipe burst in the 4200 block of Winchester Avenue. The break occurred in front of Tri-State Pawn and Jewelry. The business remained open Wednesday afternoon even though they only had access via 43rd Street.
"It's two weeks before Christmas," said Cody Williams, a store manager. "This is one of our big times of the year. We had eight or 10 customers in here when it happened, but it's been slow since."
He ordered a porta-potty and decided to keep the store which has 22 employees open.
