MANSFIELD — The basement of the Mechanics Bank building at 2 S. Main St. was flooded Monday morning after a four-inch water line was broken during the ongoing Main Street Corridor Improvement project.
City engineer Bob Bianchi said a Kokosing Construction worker impacted the line during an excavation project outside the bank’s front door onto Main Street.
“The impact was substantial enough to cause a major leak from the pipe and flood (Mechanic’s) basement with about four inches of water,” Bianchi said.
He said Kokosing worked into the evening on Monday to get the water line repaired and service returned.
“The line has been fixed and restored,” the engineer said.
Bianchi said the accident happened during the installation of a storm sewer on the south side of Park Avenue.
“This was a smaller part of a storm sewer installation along Park Avenue that still needed to be done,” he said.
He said the bank basement was being remodeled and had a break area, office equipment and storage spaces.
The engineer said an unknown underground fuel tank was discovered during the process.
“There was some diesel fuel in the soils that led to some contamination to the water that went into the basement,” he said.
Mark Masters, president and CEO of Mechanics, said the bank was able to remain open and serve customers during the incident.
“We would like to thank Kokosing, Mansfield City Fire Department and the Mansfield City Engineering Department for their assistance and response,” Masters said.
