Detroit — City officials are warning motorists to allow for extra drive time Monday with all but one lane on Jefferson Avenue closed in both directions for crews to repair a ruptured water main.
The 42-inch main at East Jefferson and Burns near Belle Isle burst Saturday, city officials said in a press release Sunday. While the hole is expected to snarl traffic for a few days, there was no flooding, and no residents or businesses have reported water outages, the release said.
The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department is to begin construction to repair the main Monday, the release said.
“Currently and during the construction process, one lane of E. Jefferson will remain open in each direction, but bike lanes at the repair location will be inaccessible,” the release said. “It is currently estimated that repairs will be completed and the road re-open around the middle of the week.
“In the meantime, motorists are advised to budget additional time for their commute and/or to seek an alternate route to avoid potential backups,” the release said.
Employees from the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Department of Public Works Traffic Management will have people on site to help manage traffic flow.
Residents who are experiencing problems from the main break are directed to call the Water & Sewerage Department at (313) 267-8000.
The incident was the second large water main break in Metro Detroit on Saturday. In Farmington Hills, a break in a main at 14 Mile Road and Verona prompted a boil-water advisory in Novi and Walled Lake because there was no water pressure in portions of those communities.
ghunter@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2134
@GeorgeHunter_DN
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit water main break to snarl Jefferson Avenue traffic
Reporting by George Hunter, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
