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Business Owner Frustrated Over Repeated Flash Flooding On Washington Blvd.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A low-lying section of Washington Boulevard has been a flash flooding trouble spot for years now.

It was again late Thursday night and again early Friday morning.

Joe Nichols says he's sick and tired of the high water woes. He owns a welding business along the flood-prone road, near the century-old Larimer Avenue Bridge.

Not only does his property get flooded when there's a heavy downpour, but Nichols says two broken pipes near or under the crumbling bridge are the reasons why there's a constant flow of water cascading down a hillside behind his property.

And when it rains, the problem of flooding is exacerbated.

Nichols says he thinks the pipes have to be capped, or the water diverted.

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Nichols told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "I would personally like to invite Mayor Bill Peduto to come down here and take a tour. I'll give him a hand-guided tour."

Guy Costa, the mayor's Chief of Operations, says there was an excess amount of water flowing down the hill near Nichol's business overnight and he wants the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority to investigate.

Costa says someone from the Mayor's office will visit Nichols early next week.

The flash flooding was bad enough late this week to temporarily flood the police Zone 5 Station on, and the Washington Boulevard itself was closed to traffic for hours due to high water.

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