Portage and Main reopened following water main break

WINNIPEG — A main intersection in downtown Winnipeg has reopened after it was temporarily shut down due to a water main break.

Southbound Main Street at Portage Avenue was closed for hours as crews fixed the water main break. Crews isolated the leak and fixed it early Thursday afternoon.

The twelve inch pipe that was involved in the break had “no customer connection” so no one had their water shut off during the repairs.

The water main involved was more than 100 years old, installed in 1908, according to city officials.

WATCH: City officials respond to water main break at Portage and Main

0:58 City officials speak with media about water main break that closed Portage and Main

• City officials speak with media about water main break that closed Portage and Main
• ‘Temporary discolouration’ expected near downtown water main break

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“A lot of different factors can influence water main breaks, condition of the material of the pipe, corrodes over time, the soil conditions can put stress on infrastructure underground,” Tim Shanks, Manager of Water Services with the City of Winnipeg said Thursday afternoon.

“Temporary discolouration” in the water is expected in the area as a result of the break, but city officials said there are no health concerns in connection to the brown water.