The city of Vicksburg has hired a private contractor to repair two storm drains and complete work begun Dec. 31 by city employees who repaired a broken 6-inch waterline on Clay Street.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday approved an emergency resolution to hire a contractor to complete the repairs, which has shut down the westbound lanes and closed one eastbound lane of Clay Street. The emergency declaration allows the city to hire someone without going through the state bid process.

Dirtworks of Vicksburg was selected to complete the work on the project.

City Water Mains Department employees were called out the evening of Dec. 31 after a piece of concrete from a broken storm drain fell on the pipe and broke it. The crew repaired the waterline, but were unable to refill the hole because they were also involved with preparations to get the city’s flood wall up in anticipation of a 52.5-foot crest on the Mississippi River Jan. 15.

Currently, westbound traffic on Clay Street is being detoured on Grove Street and routed back on Clay west of the construction area.

Public Works Director Garnet Van Norman said the contractor will also repair two damaged storm drains below the waterline.

“Those two lines are about 10 or 11 feet below the street,” he said. The city does not have to proper equipment to work in the ground below 9 feet.