A stretch of York Road in the Hunt Valley area will be shut down for some time after a 30-inch water main break Friday morning, leaving nearby businesses and homes without water and creating widespread traffic disruptions.
A section of the broken main was cut out Saturday. Next steps involve tying in a new section and testing. There is no update on timing at the moment.
Water distribution is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 1 Kelly Way in Sparks Glencoe. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works is also distributing water at the Giant parking lot located at 11399 York Road in Cockeysville, starting at 8:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the day.
During a news conference Friday afternoon, Baltimore City Department of Public Works Acting Director Matt Garbark noted that repair teams from the Baltimore City Department of Public Works have been on-site since late morning and are preparing for overnight repair operations.
York Road remains closed from Schilling Road to Ashland Road, with drivers being urged to use Interstate 83 and other alternative routes.
Temporary water outages and low-pressure issues are expected to affect nearby residents and businesses, particularly near Shawan Road, and the full extent of the service disruption is still being assessed.
Officials are also urging anyone in the affected areas to conserve water.
Baltimore County Executive Katherine Klausmeier announced the repairs will be handled by both the county and the city.
“While this water main is Baltimore City’s infrastructure, we are working closely with Mayor Scott and Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works to fix the pipe as quickly as possible,” Klausmeier stated.
Klausmeier also shared that she has activated the County’s Emergency Operations Center, which is available 24/7 to address residents’ concerns at (410) 887-5210.
The county executive noted that additional assistance, such as emergency potable water supplies, will be coordinated with distribution sites prioritized for critical locations such as nursing homes, medical facilities, and retirement communities.
“Our health and safety are our top priority. We’re working hand-in-hand with Baltimore City, state highway crews, and other partners to repair this as quickly as possible,” said Klausmeier.
Lauren Buckler from the Department of Public Works and Transportation revealed that the break is part of the area’s aging infrastructure and noted that water line replacement plans for sections along York Road were already in development before this incident.
“Baltimore County has been planning for a water line replacement in that area,” Buckler said.
She reiterated the importance of conserving water for residents north of Schwann Road, as the area is served by a water tower that is not being refilled during the repair.
Buckler explained that the repair timeline, for both the water main and subsequent roadwork, is still being assessed, as crews are working to isolate the affected area.
According to Buckler, crews are operating cautiously to prevent pressure surges that could cause additional pipe breaks.
“We’re hoping it won’t take that long,” she said, noting that the impact area is larger due to the need to isolate smaller mains to manage pressure.
Garbark added that potable water distribution is being coordinated with Baltimore County, prioritizing areas with medical facilities and retirement communities.
“There is going to be a coordinated effort with Baltimore County on staging that water distribution,” he said.
Garbark shared that the city and county allegedly have longstanding agreements on who handles repairs, with the city responsible for water line repairs and the county for road repairs.
Nearby business owners and residents expressed frustration at the disruption.
Samantha Giancola, co-owner of Bagel Works Hunt Valley, reported her parking lot was flooded, leaving her business without water and forcing closure. “These businesses will not be open, and my employees will not get paid for as long as we don’t have water,” she said.
Baltimore City and County officials have assured the public that every effort is being made to restore services and repair York Road as quickly and safely as possible.
York Road is currently closed northbound at White Avenue and southbound at Schilling Road, with detours in place.