UPDATE: Water Main Break Shuts High Street in West Medford

UPDATE - Tuesday, 8:45 a.m.: The piping beneath High Street was replaced and the road was reopened about 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Water has been restored to the area.

The road way has a slight dip in it, as the topping over the area where the line broke hasn't been laid down. It will be fully repaired later Tuesday, according to the Department of Public Works.

Original Story:

A water main break shut High Street to traffic Monday afternoon, and the road likely won't open back up until Tuesday morning, officials said.

The break was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Monday outside of Brookline Bank at 422 High St. As of about 5 p.m. Monday, the street was closed from Woburn Street to the railroad tracks in West Medford. The break caused water to blow through the asphalt road surface, creating a large hole in the street.

Crewmen from the Water and Sewer Department were digging out the water pipes beneath High Street Monday afternoon. Once reached, the piping will be replaced and then the street will be patched up, DPW commissioner Jack Buckley said.

"The goal is to have the road operational for the morning rush hour," Buckley said.

When the problem was first reported, a small amount of water was bubbling up from the street, Buckley said. But shortly after a crew arrived, the water blew through the asphalt, sinking the street. The rear tires of a DPW pick-up truck parked outside Brookline Bank partially sunk into the road, Buckley said.

Water had to be shut in the immediate area, causing about 10 businesses and 40 homes to be without water Monday afternoon. Many businesses west of Brookline Bank remained open.

The cause of the break hasn't been determined, but the water infrastructure is over 100 years old, Buckley said.

"The leading suspect is really the age of the infrastructure," he said.

Along with the DPW, Medford Police and Fire and National Grid all responded to the break.

"The police and fire departments responded very quickly," Buckley said. "It helped us a lot. Without them diverting traffic, this would have been impossible."