By comparison, Topeka had about 500 breaks for all of 1998. With temperatures expected to remain below normal this week, Rankin expects more breaks. Crews remained on the scene Tuesday afternoon to repair the broken water line at S.E. 8th. The Topeka Police Department responded to the report, as it has with several breaks. John Sidwell, police spokesman, said breaks temporarily stress the department when officers are taken from other duties.
Officers normally remain at the scene until barriers arrive to block traffic from the work area.
The department also steps in when motorists disobey instructions on the temporary barriers. If the sign says, 'road closed,' and they drive past that, they are subject to getting a citation. Kenneth Donaldson, transportation operations manager for the city's public works department, said cooperation among city departments assists the water division in quickly repairing a break. Crews from the public works department apply salt to the roadway before it is reopened to traffic. The salt melted the ice Tuesday morning, but Williams was stuck in the cold.