A break in a water main in Nanaimo has closed down part of Third Street.
Crews were on scene Wednesday morning, digging up the road between Bruce and Howard Avenue.
Traffic heading into the downtown core is being diverted onto Howard Avenue and through to Pine Street to avoid the closure.
Road crews told CHEK that the section would remain closed until late Wednesday night.
John Elliot, the director of public works for the City of Nanaimo, tells CHEK News that half a million litres of water was lost as a result of the break.
“The break did some damage. Quite a bit of road damage,” he said.
“We have crews down there, preparing to repair the drain, pulling damaged asphalt and make sure nothing undermined.”
He adds that he was notified by the RCMP, who reported a “bubbling road” early Wednesday morning.
One nearby apartment building had its front entrance damaged.
“No cause yet,” Elliot added. “It’s a 1961 water main, 200mm in diameter. It’s not high pressure, only about 65 psi.”
Pylons and signs crossed either end of the segment of the road, stopping traffic from passing through the area.
An excavator was also on scene, pulling up the road.
CHEK has reached out for more information and will update this article accordingly.
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