Broken Sewer Pipe Behind 12th Street Hole

An official from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection tells us that an old sewer pipe is to blame for Wednesday afternoon’s cave-in on 12th Street between 4th and 5th Ave.

The 30″ pipe, which the DEP estimates to be circa 1900, deteriorated over time, causing water to seep into the surrounding soil and erode the foundation of the street.

The DEP excavated the site on Monday night to check for infrastructure damage, and will continue repairs throughout the day on Thursday.

No word on how long 12th Street will be closed to traffic, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated as the repairs progress.

Photo by Jeff Bush