Police shut down westbound lanes of 23rd Street after water main break

A water main break near 23rd and Ousdahl stalled traffic early Thursday.

Lawrence police shut down both westbound lanes of 23rd Street about 12:20 a.m. after the main broke north of 23rd near Ousdahl Road.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Ted Bordman said officers were dispatched to the area, where water was flowing into the intersection. Part of Ousdahl Road was blocked by city workers. Westbound vehicles on 23rd Street were forced to use the center turn lane, and on portions of the street, westbound lanes were completely submerged.

Jeanette Klamm, the city’s utility program manager, said the 8-inch line blew a 3-foot hole. She estimated the pipe was 55 years old.

“When you have a leak like what we’re talking about, there’s a lot of pressure,” Klamm said. “That’s a tremendous amount of water.”

Klamm said crews repaired the distribution line that carries drinking water throughout the city by 11 a.m.

About 20 homes, a couple of businesses and Schwegler school were without water until the problem was fixed.