CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A busy intersection just outside uptown on Charlotte's west side is closed after a large water main broke, flooding the streets and leaving major damage behind Sunday afternoon.
According to Charlotte Water, firefighters were first called to the corner of Freedom Drive and West Morehead Street. People in the area said they heard a loud bang noise and there was a rush of water covering the street.
“Kind of looked like little rapids cause based on where the concrete came up, it was causing like rapids and little waterfalls so it kind of looked like, kind of like rapids," one person told NBC Charlotte.
Crews were able to get the water shut off but the road was badly damaged and the water washed away several chunks of asphalt and left a sinkhole in the outbound lanes of Freedom Drive. Charlotte Water estimated it would take about two days to repair the road.
Restaurants close by were forced to shut down early Sunday due to the flooding and concerns over the water quality.
Multiple businesses in the area, including Pinky's Westside Grill, Dunkin' Donuts and even Charlotte Douglas International Airport reported lower water pressure after the main broke. Charlotte Water hasn't yet determined the cause of the break.
The inbound lanes of Freedom Drive reopened early Monday after crews spent hours at the scene making sure it was clear.
After repairing the pipe that had the ruptures Sunday afternoon, workers started repairing another pipe that's old, updating it.
The update could take a good part of the week before the project is complete, according to Charlotte Water.
Charlotte Water says they don’t know exactly what caused the sinkhole. Anyone in the area who experiences low pressure or discolored water in the next few days is asked to call 311.