Pearl Road Won't Reopen Today After All

UPDATE: The city is reporting on its website that one lane on Pearl Road -- for northbound traffic -- reopened at 6 a.m. Thursday.

Pearl Road will apparently not reopen this afternoon following this morning's major water main break.

A Service Department spokesperson said the city will try to have two lanes open -- one in each direction -- by Thursday morning's rush hour.

Service Director Joe Walker said Wednesday morning he hoped to have two lanes open this afternoon, but that will apparently not happen.

Traffic will be squeezed for the next three to five days while crews replace and repair the pavement.

Alex Margevicius, commissioner of the Cleveland Division of Water, said a boil alert remains in effect until Thursday morning for the area south of Whitney, north of Lunn, east of Prospect and west of Howe.

"It's just a precaution," Margevicius said. "Folks may want to boil their water for consumption."

The water line ruptured about 2:15 a.m., creating a crater in the road and sending water cascading down the hill. The flow washed out decorative stones along the side of Pearl Road, leaving piles of rocks in the roadway near Valley Parkway. 

Margevicius said water pressure was restored to most homes shortly before 6 a.m.

The Cleveland Division of Water is responsible for making the repairs.

Schools were closed today. The was closed until 10 a.m.