An official says the rupture was likely caused by a freezing/thawing.
By Scott Taylor
Staff Writer

AUBURN – Water and road crews worked most of Friday to staunch a huge water main break along Center Street.

A 10-foot rupture in a 20-inch pipe stopped water service to 100 customers along Woodlawn Avenue and University Street Thursday and Friday between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.

“One of the concerns you have with a pipe that large is volume,” said Auburn Water and Sewer District Superintendent Normand Lamie. “Essentially, all the water from the higher elevations was draining out that rupture.”

It appeared that the rupture was caused by freezing and thawing of the ground under the road, Lamie said.

“We had about 3 feet of frost in the ground,” Lamie said. The pipe was buried more than 4 feet under the road, he said.

The break forced the city to close the southbound lanes of Center Street while crews worked.

Southbound traffic was diverted down Lake Auburn Avenue and onto Stanley Street.

One northbound lane of Center Street was left open during the work.

Crews had to replace a 20-foot section of pipe under the road, Lamie said. The pipe was delivered just after noon Friday.

“It’s messy, but under control,” Lamie said. “Everybody worked together pretty well, from the highway department out with their sanders to the police assisting with the detour.”

Water began pouring from under a rock wall in front of Camera Service Center at 379 Center St. just after 11 p.m. Thursday. Pavement in the center of the road broke open at about the same time, sending a geyser of water shooting into the air.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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