Water pooling along sidewalk on Alderson on June 14, 2023. Photo by Renee Umsted.
Editor’s note (1:55 p.m. June 15): Updates to this story have been made as more information has become available. Read the newest article regarding this incident here.
There was trouble in Lakewood today.
Around 10 a.m., water was seen emerging from under the road at the intersection of Oram Street and Alderson Street. The water was running down Alderson toward La Vista Drive and down Oram toward Gaston Avenue, concentrating near the sidewalks.
This was not like the runoff that streams down the road when your neighbors water their lawn. This was more like a current.
Water spanned from the sidewalks several feet into the road along the block, making it difficult for pedestrians trying to cross to remain dry. That includes Advocate employees walking from the parking garage to our office in Lakewood Tower. (Condolences to any colleagues who decided to wear suede shoes today.)
While we believe a water main break is the cause of the chaos, we have not yet received official confirmation from the City of Dallas. But when we do, we will update this story.
We also believe this is not the first time in recent years that the city has had to make repairs to the utilities lurking beneath the surface at this intersection. Again, we don’t have official confirmation on that, but when we do, we will update.
By late morning, water had been shut off for Lakewood Tower and our neighbor, Caddo Office Reimagined.
The city closed off the intersection at Oram and Alderson to vehicular traffic.
Around mid-afternoon, crews began digging a hole in the asphalt at the intersection. By the end of the work day, the raging rivers near the sidewalks weren’t an issue anymore, but the intersection was still closed, and the buildings still lacked water.
We also saw that crews working at the intersection had brought in a truckload of material and dumped it in the road.
Keep checking with the Advocate for updates on this story.
Construction at Oram and Alderson on June 14, 2023. Photo by Renee Umsted.
