Downtown Hagerstown water main repaired; main route closed for much of work day

Julie E. Greene, The Herald-Mail
·2 min read

Hagerstown water crews repaired a water main break on a main downtown traffic route after the break had a busy block closed most of the work day, city officials said.

Water service also was restored Thursday afternoon, Utilities Director Nancy Hausrath said. Hausrath did not have the time the road reopened, but said it was open at 4:35 p.m.

The water main break in the 100 block of East Franklin Street was reported to Washington County Emergency Services at 6:18 a.m. Thursday, a 911 supervisor said. That area is between Mulberry and Locust streets.

Hagerstown work crews repair a water main break Thursday morning on East Franklin street between Mulberry and Locust streets.
Hagerstown work crews repair a water main break Thursday morning on East Franklin street between Mulberry and Locust streets.

Franklin Street is part of westbound U.S. 40.

Shortly before 8:30 a.m., Hausrath had estimated repairs could take 8 to 10 hours. Later, that estimate was shortened with water service and access to the road expected to be restored by 3 p.m.

"It was a typical main break," Hausrath said. A section of 10-inch pipe was replaced.

The 100 block of East Franklin Street in downtown Hagerstown is expected to be closed much of the day due to a water main break.
The 100 block of East Franklin Street in downtown Hagerstown is expected to be closed much of the day due to a water main break.

Traffic, including emergency vehicles, were not able to get through that block during the closure, according to a city news release.

Water customers in that block essentially were without water service during repairs, Hausrath said. If they had water it was what was stored in pipes and the pressure would have been low, she said.

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Hagerstown work crews repair a water main break Thursday morning on East Franklin street between Mulberry and Locust streets.
Hagerstown work crews repair a water main break Thursday morning on East Franklin street between Mulberry and Locust streets.

Officials: Avoid area near 100 block of East Franklin Street

Hausrath cautioned people to refrain from walking up to the job site for safety. When a main breaks, it washes out dirt fill under the road, Hausrath said. That could cause subsurface voids, meaning there's a possibility the road could give way, she said.

Pictures the city posted on its Facebook page showed upheaval and breaks in the roadway due to the water main break.

Hausrath said water main breaks this time of year are typically associated with winter water temperatures. The water is colder than the ground temperature, she said.

The main is a concrete-lined, cast-iron pipe, she said.

Hagerstown work crews repair a water main break Thursday morning on East Franklin street between Mulberry and Locust streets.
Hagerstown work crews repair a water main break Thursday morning on East Franklin street between Mulberry and Locust streets.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Main downtown Hagerstown traffic route could reopen by mid-afternoon