LEWISTON – A slipped connection in a cast-iron water main left part of the city without water Thursday and snarled Sabattus Street traffic.

City crews discovered water bubbling from below the pavement along Sabattus Street near Garcelon Street about 6:30 a.m.

Public works crews closed the area, detouring Sabattus Street traffic between North Temple Street and Old Greene Road.

They had the 65-year-old pipe repaired and water service restored by 1:30 p.m., according to Public Services Director Dave Jones. The street was reopened Thursday evening, police said.

Jones said the leak came at a joint in the supply line connecting two sections of pipe. One pipe has a large, bell-shaped end. A smaller section fits inside. Crews don’t know why the connection slipped.

“We don’t think it had to do with the cold weather because it’s buried too deep,” he said. The pipe was buried 5 feet below ground, about 3 feet below the current frost level.

The cast-iron pipe was buried in 1941.

The gushing water also damaged the Sabattus Street pavement, but Jones said crews were hoping to have the road usable by 5:30 p.m.

Jones did not know how many customers were left without water service by the work. The line services homes north of Sabattus Street and east of Old Greene Road.

Crews diverted water to many of those residences, he said.

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