Needham Street Water Main Repaired, But Expect Delays In Newton

NEWTON, MA — A water main break on Needham Street has been repaired the morning after it burst, forcing officials to close the busy road at both ends. The Mayor's Office said Needham Street opened to traffic at 7:30 am., but drivers should continue to expect lane closure and delays while the road is restored.

Throughout Wednesday traffic was snarled in the area and many businesses were without water, forcing them to close. Police and fire officials asked people to avoid the area, which was more of a river than a road for a block between Jaconnet Street and Tower Road into the evening.

Although the break appears to have happened in front of Citizens Bank at 165 Needham St., the entire street was blocked off to traffic from Winchester Street to the bridge.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller told Patch crews had to get the water main shut off manually. Once the main is shut off, they can excavate and figure out a fix.

"In the meantime businesses are without water, and we are snarling up traffic, unfortunately," she said. "It's going to be a while."

The water was turned off for nearby businesses just after 2:30 p.m. according to employees, prompting some businesses in the area to close.

Nothing Bundt Cakes, which is across from the break, was open but not making anything new because crews had no access to water. One woman in the shop said it took her much longer to get here than normal with the road closures, but she was determined to get her daughter a birthday cake. So far businesses still have electricity.

The Newton Nexus plaza was largely empty of cars, strange for middle of the day in Newton. A trickle of people could be seen walking here or there trying to accomplish errands, but for the most part, the area was quiet, save for the yellow-vested Newton DPW crew members.

"It's kind of a disaster," said Paul Loiselle, manager of the Rockland Trust Bank. " Our afternoon is a wash."

Young dancers taking classes from the ballet studio at Newton Nexus were picked up early because there was no bathroom water for the toilets, according to one passerby.

The water main break and road closures meant fewer visitors, Loiselle said from the air-conditioned, but empty bank. He's hopeful things will be back in order by tomorrow.

The break happened around 1:30 p.m. and crews were still working to turn off the water pipe at 3:40 p.m. as dark storm clouds hovered. A crack of thunder and a flash of lightening sent DPW employees off to close truck windows at 3:50 p.m.

Traffic:

"As anyone who travels down Needham Street knows, it's busy during best of days, we are asking for motorists to avoid the area and expect delays," Lt. Bruce Apotheker told Patch. He said there's signage in place alerting drivers, too, during rush hour traffic.

You might want to avoid Exit 19 on Route 95, and travel along Hammond Pond Parkway, Route 9 or Washington Street instead.

Centre Street was backed up for several blocks leading up to Route 9. Needham Street was closed at Dedham and Winchester streets. The 59 bus is also affected.

This has happened before:

In 2014, there was a large water main break on a different section of the road, but officials say it may not be the same pipe. In 2018, there was a break around the corner on Winchester Street.

The DPW Commissioner Jim McGonagle said the city's old infrastructure contributes to these type of situations. But, he said, Newton has an "aggressive" plan in the works to address that.

Officials say the pipe 20 inches in diameter and service hundreds of businesses in the area.

Traffic Advisory: Needham St. is closed due to a Water Main break. Please see alternative routes and expect major delays in the area. pic.twitter.com/V4J8nRqti1
— Newton Police (@newtonpolice) July 17, 2019

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).