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Omaha utility companies evaluate damage after the pavement collapsed under the garbage truck downtown


A portion of 16th Street in downtown Omaha will be blocked to traffic as the public works department fixes a hole in an alleyway between Farnam and Harney streets.

A garbage truck punctured the alley pavement just after 8 a.m. on Thursday. The motorist was unharmed, but it left a large hole on the side of the road.

Andrew Mead, proprietor of The Green Room, an adjacent cocktail club, told First Alert 6 that he phoned to report issues with the alleyway last week.

“We just noticed that the driveway up to the alley had started cracking,” Mead told me. “It went down about three inches so I decided on Thursday to give public works a call and they were out here probably 30 minutes on Friday and shut it down.”

Andrew stated that the city installed barricades to keep traffic out of the alley, but this did not totally resolve the issue. He stated that he observed the barricade had been moved.

“Not a very great one,” Mead added. “It is pretty movable, but there was a barricade put up.”

Omaha Fire, Omaha Police, and utility companies worked together to find a way to get the truck out of the pit.

“They are going to shut down gas, they are going to shut down power, and from talks with them, it is going to effect a large portion of Downtown Omaha,” Coby Werner, OFD Battalion Chief, announced. “Just in case something horrible happens, such as electricity lines or gas lines breaking. That is why they are turning it off before we move in.”

After the gas and power were turned off, OFD dispatched one of its own into the hole to connect the vehicle to the tow line.

“We are actually going to hook one of our guys up to our aerial ladder, which can safely remain away from that area,” Werner said. “But there is inherent danger in simply lowering someone, especially in these conditions.” It should be safe for a well trained individual.”

After the garbage truck was hitched, it was gradually lifted back onto solid pavement, and the utility companies must now inspect their lines to see whether any damage has occurred.

For more than a half-hour, electricity was turned off in around three-quarters of downtown. It has now been repaired. MUD has yet to notify residents when the gas will be switched back on.

According to officials, 16th Street between Harney and Farnam will be closed for an extended period of time.

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