Still No Definitive Cause For Vinton Street Water Main Break

MELROSE, MA — It's been nearly a week since a massive water main break chewed up a chunk of Vinton Street and impacted water service across the city. But no one knows quite what caused it.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority said Monday morning there is still "nothing definitive" as to what led to a 20-inch pipe rupturing and flooding a busy intersection on the Lynn Fells Parkway. The cause is still being investigated.

Crews remain at work on Vinton Street, where they are likely to be for weeks. Workers need to repair not only the road — which was devastated from the pressure of the break — but also any surrounding infrastructure that suffered damage.

The break Tuesday night caused water to flow down Lynn Fells Parkway to the Tremont Street intersection. Water service throughout the city was hampered for about 90 minutes.

There was immediate speculation the MBTA's nearby work on the Lynn Fells Parkway bridge replacement project contributed to the break, something the transit agency denied after staff surveyed the scene.

City officials said Vinton Street could be closed for weeks.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook