Nova Scotia

Barrington Street reopens following water main break

A major downtown Halifax street has reopened to traffic following repairs to a water main that broke Thursday morning and caused traffic delays in the area.

Service in downtown Halifax restored, road reopens following repairs

Crews filled in three large holes that were dug up along Barrington Street during the search for the site of the water main break. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

A major downtown Halifax street has reopened to traffic following repairs to a water main that broke Thursday morning and caused traffic delays in the area.

A section of Barrington Street between Duke and Prince streets was closed for much of the day so crews could locate the break, dig down to make repairs and then repave with temporary asphalt.

The stretch reopened shortly before 4 p.m. Halifax Water said water service has also been restored, but that some customers on the Halifax peninsula might have discoloured water over the next 24 hours. It offered tips for those who do.

The water main break covered the road in ice. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

An excavator dug three holes on Barrington Street to locate the break.

Halifax Water spokesperson James Campbell said earlier in the day that crews had not yet determined the cause.

"[It] could be related to the rapid temperature drop overnight, a weak spot in the pipe, or a pressure spike," he said in an email.

An excavator was brought in to dig up portions of Barrington Street. (Paul Palmeter)

Downtown Halifax wasn't the only place hit with a water main break Thursday.

Halifax Water crews were on site repairing a break near Beaver Bank Road. Customers between civic addresses 5 and 25 Beaver Bank Rd. were without water.

Traffic was reduced to one lane in both directions. There was no estimate when service would be restored.

Last week, cold temperatures caused about half a dozen breaks across the Halifax region.

The broken water pipe was replaced early Thursday afternoon. (Paul Palmeter)

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With files from Paul Palmeter