DEP Investigates Water Main Break on LES

Officials are looking into whether frigid temperatures are behind a water main break near the FDR Drive in Lower Manhattan.

A small underground pipe burst at about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at Cherry Street and the FDR Drive, resulting in a small flow of water, authorities said.

Parts of the road cracked open and the water quickly turned to ice as freezing temperatures and subzero wind chills descended on the city.

By Wednesday morning, part of the service road along the FDR that turns into Cherry Street was ice-covered. Cherry Street was closed to drivers as crews put salt down over the frozen street and worked to repair the water main break.

In the meantime, authorities said water was safe for residents to drink.

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