Tudor, Old Seward intersection closed through at least part of Saturday

The intersection of Tudor Road and the Old Seward Highway will remain closed through at least part of Saturday as crews repair a broken water main.

Alaska Water and Wastewater Utility spokesperson Chris Kosinski said repair crews had to bring in heavier equipment late Thursday to excavate the affected portion of the water main.

“We’ve exposed the pipe and it has about a fist-sized hole in it,” Kosinski said.

Kosinski said the puncture occurred when a contractor working for GCI was boring a hole underground to run a stretch of fiber-optic cable, when it hit the water main running down Tudor Road.

Engineers are now working to find a quick fix. Kosinski said one potential option is to use a large clamp to temporarily seal the hole.

“If we can use that clamp, we’ll be able to close up the hole itself and eventually get back in the system to repair it later on – make a permanent repair,” he said.

That determination should be made later Friday.

If engineers decide the clamp option is not an adequate fix, Kosinski says the utility will have to order a part from the Lower 48.

But, for now, he says the system has been rerouted, and all customers should have water.

“Pressure and flow of water may be less in some areas than normal,” Kosinski said. “But, everybody should have water supply.”

Kosinski said the utility is working to allow traffic flow to return to normal. But, the intersection will remain closed through at least part of Saturday – possibly longer.