Water main break Tuesday closes southbound lanes on Union Boulevard in Colorado Springs, but lanes have since reopened
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A water main break on Tuesday afternoon near the busy intersection of Academy and Union boulevards has been temporarily repaired, and the situation likely won't affect traffic during Wednesday morning rush hour.
Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) alerted customers of the break, which closed all three southbound lanes of Union between Academy and Montebello Drive as of 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
CSU said that detours were set up via Montebello Drive to Academy Boulevard and urged drivers to use caution.
The cause of the emergency repair was fairly unusual; it was wear and tear brought on by old age.
A spokesperson for CSU told KRDO13 in a statement:
"Rapid freeze/thaw cycles, aging infrastructure and other conditions can contribute to water main leaks or breaks. Our water system is large and complex with more than 2,200 mains. Crews worked quickly and safely to complete the repair and are now backfilling the site."
Several residents of nearby El Capitan Drive told KRDO13 they didn't experience any water pressure issues or shutdowns, but they did express some annoyance at the traffic disruption in the area.
The break caused traffic backups for at least an hour on Union as drivers tried to detour around the area.
Tensions rose to the point that KRDO 13 saw one driver leave his vehicle to argue with another.
Colorado Springs police sent a community service officer to help guide traffic.
Around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Union Blvd was reopened to drivers. However, drivers aren't out of the woods just yet. CSU said that on Wednesday, the same stretch of road will see lane shifting as crews repave over the repair spot.
However, crews normally pave in temperatures above 50 degrees, and the highs are forecast to be in the mid- to upper-40s.
Thursday offers more favorable paving conditions, with temperatures in the low-60s expected.
KRDO 13 will continue to monitor the situation.
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