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Water main break costs unknown

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Jan 6, 2013 at 7:57 am

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (KNSI) Minneapolis officials say it's too early to estimate the cost of a water-main break that sent 14 million gallons of water gushing into downtown streets this week.

Insurance is likely to cover some of the costs, which continue to rise as cleanup crews work around the clock.

City Engineer Steve Kotke says workers will be working on overtime for the whole weekend. He says officials don't even have a ballpark estimate of costs.

The break happened Thursday when an excavation contractor was working near the pipe.

Dozens of businesses had to close down and send workers home early. At a nearby U.S. Postal Service Building, dozens of postal vehicles and employee cars got swamped, causing an estimated minimum of $500,000 in damage.

Photo courtesy Associated Press