| By Big Radio News Staff |
Janesville’s water mains continue to take the brunt of a freeze-and-thaw winter.
The city announces its water utility is wrestling with a major, 12-inch, cast-iron water main that blew out Monday at North Pontiac Drive near Randolph Road and Lucerne Drive.
As city water utility crews work to repair the break, North Pontiac Drive between Randolph Road and Lucerne Drive is being closed to traffic.
Water service is interrupted along North Pontiac Drive near the water main break. Repairs are expected to take most of the day Monday.
The city asks motorists to avoid the area.
Crews have been busy the last three weeks with multiple water main breaks throughout the city.
Crews on scene say Monday’s break was particularly significant because of the large size of the main. Some commercial customers about a half-mile north, along Humes Road, indicated the Pontiac Drive break caused a noticeable drop in their water pressure.
Crews say the force of water from the busted break heaved the asphalt surface of Pontiac Drive, so a section of the street near the break will need to be replaced this spring.
The city dealt with a similar break along Humes Road in January that caused a blowout to the road also has a heaved section that awaits permanent repairs in March.
This is as temperatures have fluctuated between arctic blasts and springlike, thaws — a weather pattern water utility officials say can put added pressure on water mains and can cause them to rupture.
Janesville’s water utility is at (608) 755-3115.
