Newton Corner water main break has been repaired, crews working to reopen streets

NEWTON, Mass. — Crews in Newton worked late into the night to repair a water main break on Washington Street that caused detours all day Friday.

Newton Department of Public works tweeted just after 10 p.m. that the break was repaired and crews are paving the road.

Part of Washington Street at Newton Corner became a lake in perhaps the worst spot at the worst time. Video from the scene showed multiple police cruisers blocking off the area as water gushed out of the ground.

“Obviously miserable,” said Dan Correia. He said he had been in traffic for 45 minutes when usually he spends only five minutes driving through the area.

Late Friday morning, a water main burst in St. James Circle, which runs over the Mass Pike in Newton. It’s a major thoroughfare with ramps on and off the Pike.

“It’s a nightmare. Yeah, so far the Pike hasn’t been too badly backed up. It’s mostly the off-ramps,” said Chief John Carmichael, Newton Police.

Carmichael said the nice weather and a little bit of that probably contributed to breaking, which was discovered by the fire department.

“Right after this happened the fire department was responding to a call. It looks like the roadway buckled a little bit and the bottom of the fire truck caught, so that’s why you see some of the pavement torn up,” said Carmichael. The fire truck was not taken out of service.

It took a couple of hours to shut off the main.

“It’s a nightmare,” said the manager of the Four Points by Sheraton Boston Newton as he rushed back to his guests. His building was without water for over two hours. A city spokesperson said hotel and nearby homes had water by mid-afternoon.

Two blocks of businesses remained without water. “Fortunately, it’s Friday and more and more people work hybrid now, so the building wasn’t full. So people just went home,” said Alison Leary, Newton City Councilor.

One restaurant owner remained optimistic that they would open soon. He was more positive than those stuck in traffic “I got off the ramp and it was about 20 minutes to get to the BC and now it will take me 20 minutes to get back on the Pike,” said one driver.

The cause of the break wasn’t immediately known.

There were no additional details available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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