Commuters in Walnut Creek are facing a frustrating second day of traffic jams after a water main break on Thursday afternoon. The 2:45 p.m. leak has left lanes blocked in both directions on Ygnacio Valley Road near Homestead Avenue, with drivers stuck for an hour and a half or more.
"It usually takes me about 15 to 20 minutes to get home, but I've been sitting in traffic for about an hour and a half," said one frustrated commuter. "It's a bummer, but it is what it is. There's nothing you can do but listen to good music and sing along."
The repair work continues, with crews working through the night and into the morning hours on Friday. According to East Bay Municipal Utility District spokesperson Joe Voelker, the cause of the leak is still under investigation.
To fix the break, which occurred on a 1955-era steel transmission line, crews had to identify the source of the leak and navigate around underground utilities. "It's an involved process," said Voelker. "There are stop lights, crosswalks, and other buried infrastructure in this intersection that we have to work around."
The repair work is expected to be completed by Saturday morning at the earliest. In the meantime, drivers can expect more delays on Ygnacio Valley Road near Homestead Avenue.
As for the affected office building, it remains without water until further notice. Crews worked through a large opening in the road to reach the break and make repairs. When asked about the extent of the repair process, Voelker noted that "it's an amazing thing they've done throughout the evening and morning."
"It usually takes me about 15 to 20 minutes to get home, but I've been sitting in traffic for about an hour and a half," said one frustrated commuter. "It's a bummer, but it is what it is. There's nothing you can do but listen to good music and sing along."
The repair work continues, with crews working through the night and into the morning hours on Friday. According to East Bay Municipal Utility District spokesperson Joe Voelker, the cause of the leak is still under investigation.
To fix the break, which occurred on a 1955-era steel transmission line, crews had to identify the source of the leak and navigate around underground utilities. "It's an involved process," said Voelker. "There are stop lights, crosswalks, and other buried infrastructure in this intersection that we have to work around."
The repair work is expected to be completed by Saturday morning at the earliest. In the meantime, drivers can expect more delays on Ygnacio Valley Road near Homestead Avenue.
As for the affected office building, it remains without water until further notice. Crews worked through a large opening in the road to reach the break and make repairs. When asked about the extent of the repair process, Voelker noted that "it's an amazing thing they've done throughout the evening and morning."
. Another water main break and traffic jam in Walnut Creek. Can't these crews catch a break? 
I'm stuck in traffic for my second day and I'm starting to lose it. At least the repair work is thorough, but honestly, it's gonna be another long night of sitting in traffic for commuters like me. The 1955-era steel transmission line is old news 
. Can't we invest in some modern infrastructure already? 
I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING THEIR BEST, BUT COME ON, PEOPLE, IS IT REALLY THAT HARD TO FIX A LEAK?! AND NOW WE'RE STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR HOURS, SPENDING THE NIGHT AWAY FROM OUR HOMES... IT'S LIKE WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE REPAIR CREWS 
I DO HOPE THEY GET IT FIXED BY SATURDAY MORNING THOUGH, BECAUSE LITERALLY SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR ANOTHER NIGHT IS NOT MY IDEA OF A FUN TIME 
. Can you even imagine having to sit there for an hour and a half? I feel bad for the poor commuters who have to deal with it every day. And can we talk about how long these repair crews are working for?! I mean, I know they gotta do their job but come on, it's already been 2 days 
. And what's with the lack of transparency? When does the cause of the leak even get out? It's like they're trying to keep it under wraps 
. We should be demanding answers, not just waiting for the repair work to finish. This is exactly why we need more accountability in our transportation system! 
But seriously, water main break is so annoying 
And crews r working all night 
. Can't wait til Sat morning they finish 
. Hows ur day going tho? 
anyway, hope its fixed by saturday 
I swear, water main breaks are like the ultimate traffic jam excuses. Can't even get a decent commute in Walnut Creek these days. And what's up with the repair process taking so long? 1955-era steel transmission line? Sounds like ancient technology to me! 
At least they're working hard, I guess... 
. That one commuter was right, there's not much you can do except make the best of a bad situation. It's funny how we're all connected, even in frustrating moments. There are those who work behind the scenes to fix these problems, like Joe Voelker and his crew 
. And let's be real, 1.5 hours stuck in traffic ain't so bad when you consider all the good music out there waiting for us to enjoy 
Hopefully, the crew can finish the repairs by Saturday morning and get everyone back to normal... Fingers crossed! 
. And to make matters worse, no water in the office building near the site? Like, what's next? A complete power outage on Friday morning? 
And now they're telling us we have to deal with even more traffic tomorrow? Are you kidding me?! 
. Hope they get it fixed ASAP so everyone can go back to their normal routine 
️.
. Fingers crossed they can get it fixed by Saturday, or at least provide an update so we know what to expect 
. And poor people working from that office building... no water until further notice? Not cool 
. On the bright side, I guess some people got to enjoy their favorite tunes stuck in traffic