Columbia back open after water main repair

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Many had to avoid a particular area Downtown all day Thursday.

UPDATE (9:45 p.m.): Columbia Street has been re-opened to all traffic.

The Lafayette Police Department (LPD) said there was a broken water main at Third and Columbia streets.

Columbia Street was closed beginning at Fifth Street and spanning to Third Street for most of the afternoon and evening.

Crews were on the scene working since 10 a.m. and as of 2:30 p.m. had not found the source of the problem yet. City Water Works Superintendent Kerry Smith says they believe the problem is on the other water main that runs beneath Third Street and crews will most likely have to shut down the entire intersection while they fix it.

However, as of 2:30 traffic was still moving through, there was no boil order and everyone in the area still had water.

Smith said broken water mains during this time of year have everything to do with the fluctuating weather. He says the ground shifts when the temperature changes and the pipes shift with it. If a pipe is on a rock, it can't move, so part of it shifts and another part doesn't, causing the main to bust.

Drivers should avoid the area. We’ll let you know when repairs are complete.