An 8’’ water main broke on University Avenue in front of BFS on Monday afternoon, closing some area businesses and sending water gushing down the street until crews could shut the valve off.
The break occurred about 2 p.m. and about 20 customers on University Avenue from Oakland Street to Patteson Drive were left without water while repairs were made, but customers on Patteson Drive were not affected by the break, Amy Kassay, Morgantown Utility Board spokesperson, said.
Employees for Pizza Al’s and Little Caesars Pizza both told The Dominion Post they were closed because of the lack of water. Nearby, a McDonald’s manager brought containers of hot water for employees to wash their hands with, according to manager Sheanna Danko. She said the store would stay open as long as it could.
The WVU Police Department alerted people on social media and informed them the entrance to the Erickson Alumni Center was closed. The area had a large pool of water because of the break.
At 3:15 p.m., Kassay said the repairs were expected to take four or five hours.
Motorists on University Avenue were being directed in a detour around the Evansdale Residential Complex, which includes Towers. WVU Police Department, Morgantown Fire Department and Morgantown Police Department were on scene assisting with traffic control and blocking the road.
At the time of the break, the water line was carrying about 500 gallons a minute, Kassay said. The area last received work in January 2016, when a small water leak was repaired.
