More water main issues arise downtown, force closure of Manatee County admin building

Crews are dealing with more issues after a water main break closed downtown Bradenton streets Thursday afternoon and formed a depression in a major road.

Shortly before noon Friday, City of Bradenton Public Works Director Jim McLellan said in a news release than an end cap dislodged on a different water main line in the hole formed at the corner of Manatee Avenue and 10th Street West on Thursday.

McLellan said it was “likely due to the surrounding soil having been removed by the prior water main break.”

Crews were working to isolate the line as of noon Friday.

The water main line issues forced closures of buildings and roads downtown.

The Manatee County Administration Building closed at noon Friday because of the water main line issues. Water was cut off to the administration building, according to a news release from county officials.

Public services in the administration building, such as the Building and Development Services Department, Veterans Services and the State Attorney’s Office will not be available Friday afternoon. Building and Development Services’ North River Annex remains open for normal hours.

The Downtown Cat Adoption Center, operated by Manatee County Animal Services, is closed to the public due to issues related to the water main break and “other complications.”

While crews work to repair the water main break, as well as damages to the roadway, Manatee Avenue from Ninth Street to 12th Street will be shut down for about two weeks.

Thursday’s water main break was caused by a contractor drilling through a 10-inch water main. Soil under the road was washed away by water pouring from the break, McLellan said Thursday. A depression formed at the northeast corner of the intersection of Manatee Avenue and 10th Street West when the water was shut off.

This story was originally published August 3, 2018 at 12:23 PM.