Water Main Break Forces Temporary Closure of Maple Road Near UB Campus
A severe 12-inch water main break early Monday morning caused significant flooding and detours on Maple Road between Sweet Home and Flint Road.
Commuters navigating near the University at Buffalo's North Campus faced chaotic detours on Monday morning after a 12-inch cast-iron water main ruptured under Maple Road. The break occurred around 4:30 AM, sending thousands of gallons of water across the eastbound lanes and causing localized flooding near the Sweet Home Road intersection.
Erie County Water Authority (ECWA) crews were dispatched immediately to shut off the valves and begin excavation. Consequently, the Amherst Police Department was forced to close the eastbound lanes of Maple Road, diverting heavy morning traffic onto Sheridan Drive and Dodge Road.
"The pipe that failed was originally installed in the late 1960s," explained ECWA spokesperson Dan Higgins. "The ground shifting from the freeze-thaw cycles this March finally caused it to snap. Our crews will be working around the clock to replace the section and restore the roadway."
Water service was temporarily disrupted for several nearby businesses and a small apartment complex on Chestnut Ridge Road, though it was fully restored by 2:00 PM. Full lane access on Maple Road is expected to be restored by Wednesday morning after fresh asphalt is poured and cured.