Hennepin Re-Opens, But Water Still Not Restored To Some Customers

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- After being shutdown on Thursday due to the water main break, part of Hennepin Avenue will be open for rush-hour commuters  to drive out of downtown.

But those still without running water in the affected downtown area may have to wait a couple more days before it's fixed.

"It looks like it will probably be a little closer to Sunday before we can get water back these customers here," said Steve Kotke, Minneapolis Director of Public Works.

By 4 p.m. on Friday, the City of Minneapolis said northbound lanes of Hennepin Avenue will be open to traffic.

Southbound traffic coming into downtown on the bridge will be detoured to First Avenue.

City crews have been working around the clock to repair the 36-inch water transmission line that was struck and ruptured by a private contractor at a building site at Hennepin Avenue and Second Street.

Currently, there are about six buildings along three blocks of Second Avenue North that are without water service, the city says.

The Post Office took the brunt of the flooding. Some of its administrative vehicles were stuck in the underground garage as it took on water.

No delivery vehicles were damaged, but some of the employee's personal cars were among those that were affected by the rising water.