Downtown Spokane water main bursts along Riverside Avenue

City crews are working to fix a water main that burst about 4 a.m. Thursday in downtown Spokane.

The break happened on Riverside Avenue near Stevens Street. The street, which normally has four lanes has been reduced to two.

The 10-inch water main, which was installed in 1898, was made of cast iron and had a “full circle snap,” said Marlene Feist, director of strategic development for the public works and utilities department. Meaning, it broke one area and would be easier to repair, she said.

“On a system like ours, an older system, sometimes it can just be a weak spot in the pipe and it just breaks suddenly,” she said.

Water still was pouring out of a long crack in the pavement about 7:30 a.m. The water was flowing from the crack to the curb, which remained high enough to contain the water as it flowed to the nearest storm drain.

Crews expect the pipe to be fixed by the end of the day, Feist said. She said road workers would provide a temporary patch of pavement on top by the time the evening commute rolls around. A more permanent fix will follow.

Feist said eight businesses along Riverside were affected, but none experienced any water damage, or relied on water as part of their businesses. If necessary, she said a crucial service could be provided by the city.