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Water main break causes flooding on Queens Boulevard, traffic delays

THE COURIER/Photos by Angela Matua

BY ANGELA MATUA, ANGY ALTAMIRANO AND ROBERT POZARYCKI

Commuters started Friday morning with a headache as a water main break at a construction site flooded parts of Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, according to authorities.

The incident began at 8:03 a.m. at 51-35 Reeder St., the FDNY said.

Firefighters and the Department of Buildings are currently on scene.

According to the 110th Precinct, which is on the scene, a crane at the construction site at the location struck the water main, causing the flooding.

Water is still gushing out from the construction site, spilling out from the top and bottom of a green gate surrounding the site, according to a Queens Courier reporter at the scene.

An MTA spokesperson at the scene added that the issue won’t be under control until around 4 p.m., and afterward the agency would have to go in and excavate the construction site.

Due to the flooding, the Q53 and Q60 buses are running with delays. The water main break also impacted service at the Grand Avenue M and R subway station. The MTA advised customers to exit and enter trains through only the last four cars at the stop.

Queens Boulevard is closed between 51st and 55th avenues with delays on the Long Island Expressway..

Check back with The Queens Courier for updates.