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Paulie Diaz and Lee Clark were digging up a ruptured water main near the corner of the Post Road and Wilton Road with the help of co-workers from Burns Construction. The break cut off water to Aquarion customers in Westport, Wilton and Weston. Police closed one eastbound lane of the Post Road over the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge for the safety of the workers and their equipment.
The work crew estimated it would take four to six hours to repair the damage, fill the hole and patch up the road. That fit an estimate from Police Sgt. Rich Frazier, who said the rupture was the result of shutting off water to an earlier, larger leak on Newtown Turnpike. They had to shut off a 24-inch main that backed up the system. [The pressure] is the culprit behind all of this, he said.
The Newtown Turnpike rupture has the road closed between Wilton Road and Crooked Mile Road. The leak was reported at Newtown Turnpike and Woodcock Lane. Until the water main is repaired, only residents will be allowed to pass through.
According to Lorraine Bukowski, public relations manager for Aquarion Water Co., more than 1,000 customers were affected by the leaks. Last Wednesday saw the largest customer water usage the company has ever seen. The high demand combined with the weather resulted in issues with both water pressure and color. The repairs are expected to be done by midnight.
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