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A water main break near West 102nd Street and Central Park West caused severe disruptions across multiple subway lines in Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon, just as the evening rush and holiday travel began. The incident left thousands of commuters stranded and delayed for hours as crews worked to address the issue.
The A, B, C, and D lines were the hardest hit. B and C service was fully suspended citywide, while A trains did not run between 168th Street and Chambers Street, and D trains were out of service between 34th Street-Herald Square and 161st Street-Yankee Stadium. Limited service resumed on the A and D lines by 6 p.m., but B and C trains remained rerouted to express tracks for the evening.
The disruption extended beyond the subway system. M10 buses along Central Park West were detoured, and Bronx bus routes experienced delays due to holiday traffic. Metro-North trains cross-honored MetroCards and OMNY users on the Harlem Line between Grand Central and Woodlawn to help ease the burden on commuters.
The 12-inch water main, installed in 1951, ruptured shortly before 2 p.m., sending water into the streets and flooding the subway system. At its peak, the water rose above the third rail in some areas. Crews worked to pump out the water and clear debris-clogged drains. Water to nearby buildings was shut off for several hours, affecting eight properties.
Officials expect delays and disruptions to persist as repairs continue. Commuters are advised to monitor updates and explore alternative routes to minimize delays during their travels.
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