NORTHAMPTON — Parts of the city, including City Hall, were without running water Thursday morning after a water main break forced city officials to temporarily shut off service.
Northampton Police closed Crafts Avenue around 5 a.m. Thursday after discovering water surging up from a crack in the pavement, according to officer Kyle Grumoli.
“It was just gushing everywhere and the street was all cracked,” he said.
According to Department of Public Works director Donna LaScaleia, corrosion of an old pipe caused the break. Customers along Crafts Avenue were without water for about four hours before service was restored around 10 a.m.
“DPW water utility personnel cut out the compromised section and replaced it with a new section of ductile iron pipe,” LaScaleia said in a statement. “This is a permanent repair to the water line, and roadway rehabilitation will be completed as weather permits.”
On Twitter, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz shared photos at the scene around 8 a.m. and said the Department of Public Works had isolated the leak and service would be restored before noon.
Crafts Avenue partially reopened to through traffic Thursday afternoon, with one section closed where damage was most significant.
Sarah Robertson can be reached at srobertson@gazettenet.com.