DOWNTOWN — Water erupted from a broken pipe in the Loop Monday night, drenching late rush hour traffic underneath an overpass for several Chicago Transit Authority train lines.
The CTA service pipe hydrant could be seen gushing water several feet into the air at State and Lake streets.
According to Water Management spokesman Tom LaPorte, the initial cause of the pipe break is unknown, but reports of the leak were sent to fire officials soon after it erupted.
Crews at the scene said a support column under the “L” tracks appeared to have been struck by a car as they struggled to stop the street geyser at about 7 p.m. They said the pipe appeared to lead to the State and Lake station above but were unsure what it was used for.
A city water department truck was on standby at the scene as officials began a manual shut down.