CHOKEPOINTS

Road closed in Renton after water main break floods street

Mar 20, 2026, 3:17 PM | Updated: 5:18 pm

Renton water main...

A road is closed in Renton after a water main broke. (Photo courtesy of the Renton Police Department)

(Photo courtesy of the Renton Police Department)

Houser Way North in Renton is closed from 200 Mill Avenue South to Bronson Way North after a water main break flooded the street.

Around noon Friday a 16-inch cast iron water main failed, Ron Straka, the City of Renton Public Works Department Utility Systems Division Director, told KIRO Newsradio.

“We had a break in a 16-inch main, a pretty good-sized water main, that carries a lot of water and is under pressure, which caused the flooding of the roadway and the need to close the roadway down,” Straka explained.

Crews shut off the water and are in the process of repairing the break and putting in a new piece of pipe.

The Renton Police Department (RPD) reported, via X Friday afternoon, that 200 Mill Avenue was evacuated for safety precautions.

“Do not walk around bridge area over river as that could be unsafe,” RPD stated.

Officials also advised drivers to expect delays around the area and to plan alternate routes. Traffic is currently being rerouted around the area.

The city is expecting repairs to be finished around 8 p.m. Friday.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Chokepoints

kingston ferry...

Chris Sullivan

Kingston’s new ferry ticket kiosk cut the line-cutting. Now it needs to fix the GPS problem

The Washington State Ferries put in a new ticket kiosk approaching the Kingston dock earlier this year to help ease congestion and line cutting.

14 hours ago

garbage truck fire NB I-5...

Jason Sutich

NB I-5 off-ramp to West Seattle back open after garbage truck fire

The exit ramp to West Seattle from northbound I-5 is fully blocked on Monday while a garbage truck burns in the middle of the roadway.

1 day ago

tacoma car crash fatal...

MyNorthwest Staff

One killed after car splits in half in violent Tacoma crash

The collision happened just after 11 p.m. on Portland Avenue. A 28-year-old man, Duran Tessema, hit a power pole so hard that it cut his car in half.

1 day ago

9th ave...

Chris Sullivan

SDOT plans to paint over Convention Center street art that won’t come off 9th Ave.

SDOT, which granted the Seattle Convention Center the permit to paint 9th Ave., now has a plan to fix the problem.

4 days ago

I-405 (2)...

Nate Connors

A full closure of I-405 will make for a rough weekend commute

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has scheduled a full closure of northbound I-405 between Renton and Bellevue.

4 days ago

road with paint seattle convention center...

Chris Sullivan

Seattle Convention Center paints itself into a transportation mess on 9th Ave

A Seattle Convention Center art event left a key I-5 access road covered in paint that can't be removed, and there's no timeline to reopen.

6 days ago

Road closed in Renton after water main break floods street