I-170 Exit Reopens After Water Main Break Near Galleria

An Interstate 170 exit ramp has reopened just north of the after it closed earlier Wednesday morning because of a water main break, an automated MoDOT alert states. The break occurred near the border of and .

The break happened at the southbound I-170 exit to Brentwood Boulevard.

An automated alert issued shortly after 8:30 a.m. stated that the exit had been closed. About two hours later, another alert stated the incident had been cleared.

While a MoDOT representative initially indicated that Missouri American Water worked to repair the break, water company spokeswoman Ann Dettmer said St. Louis city manages the main.

A representative with the City of St. Louis Water Division could not immediately be reached for comment.

MoDOT closed the ramp for two reasons.

"You don't want to have traffic going through A, water that's in that area, and B, that are affecting crews that are out there working," MoDOT spokesman Andrew Gates said.

A small shed on the side of the exit ramp contains a pump station owned by the City of St. Louis Water Division, Clayton public works superintendent Gary Scheipeter stated in an email.

"The City of St. Louis Water Division has a very large water main that travels from North County," Scheipeter stated. "The Chain of Rocks Water Supply follows Highway 170, down the exit ramp across Brentwood Boulevard, down Francis Place to Clayton Road and east on Clayton Road to the City of St. Louis."