PG&E crews installing power poles Tuesday (Jan. 24) accidentally bored into a water main, causing a 40-foot-tall geyser to erupt on Old Page Mill Road and Gerth Lane south of Interstate 280 in Palo Alto and cutting power to 180 customers.

Crews augured into an 18-inch city utilities water main pipeline at about 10 a.m. Water was hitting overhead power lines, so the city shut off electricity to the area south of Foothill Expressway between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Debra Katz, utilities department spokeswoman said.

Crews were seeking to minimize water-service impacts to residents and traffic was rerouted along Old Page Mill Road. The break has been isolated and contractors are working to repair the damaged pipeline, Katz said.

By Sue Dremann

By Sue Dremann

By Sue Dremann

Sue Dremann is a veteran journalist who joined the Palo Alto Weekly in 2001. She is an award-winning breaking news and general assignment reporter who also covers the regional environmental, health and...

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2 Comments

  1. Article text is very confusing. The accident was on Old Page Mill Road and traffic was rerouted along Old Page Mill Road? Does that mean that traffic is still allowed on Old Page Mill Road, or is it forced elsewhere?

    Old Page Mill Road is the main bicycle route from midtown and southern Palo Alto out to the Arastradero Preserve and Foothills Park.

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