Burst Times Square water main was 50 years past due for an upgrade
After the August 29, 2023 Times Square water main break, Professor Debra Laefer commented on the city's avoidance of a comprehensive underground infrastructure upgrade, in its attempt to sidestep the disruptions such repairs would cause. “Instead of systematically going through the system, most of the capital funding ends up being allocated on an emergency basis, which is the most expensive way to do repairs because you've got people out there at three in the morning on an emergency contract instead of, you know, putting it out to tender and getting the best bid.”
Researchers
