LEWISTON – Public works crews expected to work through the night repairing a broken sewer pipe on Sabattus Street that created a 12-foot sinkhole.

“This is a main sewer line for a big part of the city. We have to get it fixed as quickly as possible,” said Marcel Lauze, supervisor with the city’s sewer division.

An excavator began breaking through the pavement near 116 Sabattus St. around 8 p.m. after crews had been called to the scene to assess the extent of the break. Lauze said it appeared there was a 13- to 16-foot collapse in the 20-inch sewer line. Crews were going to cut out the broken section and attach a new PVC-pipe with couplings to the existing clay line.

“A lot of sediment entered the line … I’m hoping we have no problems with sewage backing up,” he said.

Unfortunately, one woman who lives near the sinkhole said she had 8 inches of sewage backed up in her basement by early evening. Firefighters turned off the hot water heater and furnace in her basement, advising her to leave everything off until the repair is made and the damage cleaned up.

The woman, who declined to give her name, said she rents the house from the Lewiston Housing Authority and had baby clothes and Christmas decorations stored in the basement.

“I’m afraid everything is ruined now,” she said.

The sinkhole, which measured roughly 4 feet across and 12 feet deep, was reported around 4:30 p.m. by a passing motorist who hit it with his truck. Police closed Sabattus Street between Sarah Jeanne’s hair salon and the Church of the Brethren soon after.

“It’s a good thing this is a Saturday and not Friday,” said Lt. James Minkowsky of Lewiston police. “The traffic is minimal.”

Lauze said the excavation had to be done carefully because of a nearby water main. The earth under the water main had been washed out from the sewer break, leaving it suspended without support about 7 feet underground.

“There’s about 100 pounds of pressure per square inch there,” he said. “We don’t want that to break as well.”

He praised his crew for responding as quickly as they did, given the holiday weekend.

“They’re hard workers and dedicated. We’ll be right in and right out,” he said.

The truck that struck the sinkhole was not damaged, said police.