Flooding causes damage to businesses & roadways, area without water for several hours

By Anthony King | SDUN Editor

An underground water main broke near the intersection of Fifth and Pennsylvania avenues in Hillcrest late afternoon Tuesday, Sept. 24, sending water into nearby businesses, damaging roadways and closing streets during the evening rush hour.

The 106-year-old water pipe began leaking around 3 p.m., officials said, and witnesses began noticing water within hours. The roadway began caving in, creating a sinkhole.

San Diego Police closed off Fifth and Pennsylvania avenues immediately and a spokesperson from San Diego Water Department said repair workers were at the location shortly after 4 p.m. Water to the area was turned off at this time as well, affecting several businesses and residents.

Water Department crews were onsite early Wednesday morning, Sept. 25, removing and replacing the broken 20-inch water main and repairing damage to the road. All three lanes of traffic were reopened to motorists by 4 p.m.

Located in front of the break at 3693 Fifth Avenue, Huapangos received the majority of damage as water flooded the restaurant’s outdoor patio, leaving mud and debris to be cleaned up the following day. Representatives from the restaurant said water did not enter the main part of the dining room, however.

At Pappalecco located at 3650 Fifth Ave., owner Francesco Bucci said they were forced to close the restaurant for the remaining part of the evening due to not being able to operate without any water. They regularly stay open until 10:30 p.m. and were open for business the following morning at 7 a.m.

There are several other dining businesses in the region affected, including The Deli Llama, R-Gang Eatery, Busalacchi’s A Modo Mio, The Tractor Room, Voyou and Celadon Thai Kitchen & Canteen.

The Tuesday water main break is the latest in a series of similar problems for San Diego, including a pipe break just hours later in North Park. There, a water main broke near the intersection of Oregon and Meade streets at approximately 4 p.m. In Mission Hills in late August, a pipe broke in the early morning hours and in May, residents on George Street, Florida Court and Florida Street in North Park dealt with water damage and outages due to a six-inch pipe break.

To report water emergencies, call 619-515-3525. Claim reports for damaged property are available from the City’s Risk Management department at sandiego.gov/riskmanagement/ or by calling 619-236-7300.

View more photos of the Hillcrest break taken Tuesday afternoon here, followed by more from Wednesday morning here.