Water main break closes 19th and Harper intersection near Douglas County Fairgrounds

East Lawrence motorists, particularly those heading to the Douglas County Fair, may need to take a detour after a major waterline break at 19th and Harper streets.

City officials announced the intersection of 19th and Harper streets will be closed to traffic through at least Wednesday morning as crews repair a 12-inch water main that has broken.

The intersection is at the northwest corner of the fairgrounds, which is hosting the Douglas County Fair this week. All main entrances to the fair along Harper Street remain open, but city crews are directing motorists to access Harper via a street other than 19th. Crews have set up a detour that uses Edgelea.

Megan Gilliland, spokeswoman for the city, said the water main break has not disrupted water service to the fairgrounds. But she said the Lawrence Humane Society and a trailer park in the area both are expected to be without water during parts of the day. A spokesman with the Humane Society, though, said the disruption is expected to short enough to not create a problem in caring for animals this afternoon.

Gilliland said at noon that crews are estimating it will take about eight hours to repair the leak. Street repairs, however, are expected to last into Wednesday morning.

Shifting of soils due to dry weather is thought to be the cause of the main break, she said.