Damage from the broken water main that spewed millions of gallons into downtown Minneapolis will cost the city at least $325,000, but the fight over who pays is just starting to be hashed out between insurers and lawyers.
The city said costs from the Jan. 3 rupture, which was unprecedented in modern city history, will likely rise. It also doesn't take into account the dozens of vehicles destroyed at the flooded post office parking ramp or the cost to businesses and restaurants that were forced to close early.
"We do have substantial damages, there's no doubt about that," Postal Service spokesman Pete Nowacki said Thursday. A damage tally is not yet available, he said.
The corner on the northeastern edge of downtown where the backhoe tore into the 36-inch water main is back to normal now. But in the moments and days after the rupture, crews worked around the clock to repair the damage, reroute traffic and clean the mess.
Crews had to shut off water to isolate the rupture. Equipment shoved the water across Hennepin Avenue toward the nearby Mississippi River. Detour routes were established. A temporary above-ground pipe was installed to serve the isolated area. The ruptured section of pipe was replaced. Temporary paving was laid down at the excavation. The new pipe was doused with chlorine and water was tested to make sure it was safe to drink. Much of that work happened on overtime, as workers labored on repairs over the weekend.
The city is self-insured, meaning that it sets aside money to cover losses based on past history, but it still seeks to recover what it shells out for losses.
Peter Ginder, a deputy city attorney, said typically the city begins informal discussions with those it finds responsible for damage to public property, hoping that they can resolve liability and reimbursement among themselves.
"Sometimes people will acknowledge that yes, my car ran over your fire hydrant," Ginder said.
