Victoria’s Johnson Street Bridge has re-opened after a water main burst Monday morning.
A section of the water main near the intersection of Esquimalt and Tyee roads broke away, a “significant failure” that caused water to stream toward the Johnson Street Bridge, said City of Victoria director of engineering Fraser Work.
The break was discovered about 6:45 a.m. and caused pooling in front of the bridge at Harbour Road, which Work said was dangerous for vehicles and cyclists.
Victoria police diverted traffic on the west side along Harbour Road as public works crews excavated to water-main depth. Workers isolated the fresh-water valves and worked to replace a four-metre section of water main, Work said.
“If everything goes well, it will all be buttoned up by [Tuesday],” he said. One lane on Esquimalt Road near Tyee Road remains closed during the repairs.
Some businesses in the area, including the Delta Ocean Pointe Hotel and the Shell gas station, were without water for an hour while crews made the repairs.
There was no damage to private property.
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CHEK News video report: Cold weather and old pipes blamed for Vic West water main break
