Road collapses after water main break in Southwest Philadelphia

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- There was good news and bad news Tuesday morning for residents of a Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood impacted by a large water main break.

The good news was that after more than four-and-a-half hours, the Philadelphia Water Department was able to shut off the supply valve to the 16-inch main - and Action News is told the impact to water customers has been minimal.

The bad news is that after the water was shut off, the road surface at 58th Street and Chester Avenue collapsed.

Watch Action Cam raw video of a water main break that has shut down the intersection of 58th Street and Chester Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

The 16-inch main ruptured sometime after 12 a.m. Tuesday 58th and Chester, near the Francis Myers Recreation Center.

Video from the Action Cam showed water surging up from beneath the road, flooding the entire intersection.

Water main break in SW Philly: Matt Pellman reports during Action News at 6 a.m. on April 25.

The flooding spread as far as Springfield Avenue, more than a block away.

The water gushed until 9 a.m., when crews were able to shut off the supply line.

A water main break caused traffic detours in Southwest Philadelphia early Tuesday.

The intersection was closed to traffic, and the flooding shut down SEPTA's Route 13 trolley service. Shuttle buses were being used instead.

Peco crews were also on the scene to see if any gas or electrical lines were disturbed.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area.

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