Water Main Break Shuts Down Mission Beach Traffic

A water main break shut down traffic in the heart of Mission Beach Tuesday and created a big, watery mess on some major streets.

At around noon, officials from the county water department were called to Mission Boulevard and West Mission Bay Drive to investigate the main break, which caused a significant amount of water to spill into the streets.

Officers from the San Diego Police Department assisted by providing traffic control in the area, shutting down portions of the road at Mission Boulevard and West Mission Bay Drive, near the Belmont Park roller coaster.

By 1:15 p.m., the water had been shut off, but the busy area remained drenched in water.

According to Arian Collins, Supervising Public Information Officer with the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, a 12-inch-diameter cast iron water main broke at the intersection of West Mission Bay Drive and Bayside Walk.

Customers in the 800-block of West Mission Bay Drive and the Bahia Hotel were left without water service as crews worked to repair the broken water main.

As of 3:30 p.m., Collins said West Mission Bay Drive remained closed to traffic in both directions between Mission Boulevard and Gleason Road.

At this time, the estimated time of restoration for water service in the area is sometime between midnight and 2 a.m., officials said. No details were immediately released regarding the cause of the main break.

Though the main break was an inconvenience for some residents, visitors and drivers, Mission Beach resident Ezra Cosby made the best of the mess on the streets.

He grabbed his kayaks and went out paddling in about three feet of water that had pooled outside his home.

"It happened kind of quickly. I grabbed my kayak and decided to just come out and play a little bit. Hang out with my neighbor,” Cosby told NBC 7.

Cosby said the water main break caused some partial flooding in his garage, but he was able to move his car before water rushed in.

“It hasn’t risen high enough for it to enter my home. I hope it stays that way,” he added.

His neighbor, Jeff Rowland, also on a kayak, said Mission Beach residents are used to some flooding here and there, especially if there's heavy rain or if a water main breaks.

“Just another day at Mission Beach. Living the dream,” he said.

Tommy and Ellen Balestreri were staying at the Bahia Resort Hotel, on vacation in San Diego from St. Louis. They were left with no water service at the hotel.

Still, they said they wouldn't let the water main break ruin their good time, or spoil the beautiful San Diego weather.

“We’re trying to get out, go ride some bikes on the beach and make the best of it,” said Tommy.

“I guess we’ll think about showers another day,” added Ellen, with a laugh.

According to an NBC 7 Investigates report in February, Mission Beach experienced four other water main breaks in 2012 and 2013. Two of those breaks were very close to the location of Tuesday's incident, also on Bayside Walk.

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