Cary Residents Face More Road Woes After Water-Line Break

"I heard the noise and thought, 'Oh boy, we're in trouble,'" said Jane Dewitt, who lives in the Seabrook Avenue neighborhood.

Last month, heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto busted a drainage pipe beneath Seabrook Avenue, creating a large sinkhole.

Crews had just reopened the road to traffic on Friday, giving motorists once again a shortcut between Cary Parkway and Maynard Road.

The trouble this time had nothing to do with the previous problem, Cary officials said.

A piece connecting two water pipes, about a mile away from the sinkhole, came loose. Crews had to shut off the line to make repairs, leaving about seven houses without water.

"I couldn't brush my teeth," said C.J. Nguyen. "I couldn't take a shower, get water to drink or anything. So, it was a real inconvenience."

Water was restored about four hours later, but residents said they hope the flow of surprises will soon run dry.

"There's always been speeding, and now, the sinkhole, and now this," Nguyen said. "It's always one thing or another, it seems."

Crews still have a few more weeks of work on Seabrook Avenue, including repaving a half-mile stretch. But that project was already on a maintenance list.