JAY – A water main broke along the edge of Route 4 near LaFleur’s Restaurant, eroding the banking and damaging a guardrail at about 3 a.m. Thursday.

It temporarily left the restaurant, Paris Farmer’s Union and Fabian Oil without tap water. The restaurant was closed during morning hours at least.

Water started bubbling up on the road and then the banking gave way, said Richard Jackson, Jay Village Water District superintendent.

About 13 feet of asbestos pipe was to be replaced with an iron pipe as soon as a safety trench box arrived, Jackson said about 8 a.m.

As long as the asbestos pipe remains wet, it is OK to handle, said Kimball Farrington, of Farrington’s Backhoe Service and Trucking.

Farrington was digging up the pavement to replace the pipe.

A large hole was left in the side of the road.

Maine Department Transportation worker Brian Moody was on hand to make sure the banking was rebuilt correctly, Jackson said.