October 29, 2013

Portland Water Bureau crews are responding to a water main break on West Burnside and SW 4th Avenue.

The 24-inch water main was about 100 years old, and ruptured early this morning.

The Bureau doesn't yet know what caused the break. We have about 2,500 miles of pipe in the city, and experience about 200 breaks per year. The colder weather and the age of the pipe may have played a role.

Traffic and TriMet buses are being diverted while crews work hard to repair the pipe and clear up the flooding.

Burnside Street water main break: Westbound lanes open; eastbound lanes remain closed

Noelle Crombie in The Oregonian