By Liz Moomey

liz.moomey@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A water main break closed a section of West Innes Street on Wednesday, causing a detour for the morning rush hour until shortly before the evening rush hour.

Salisbury-Rowan Utilities Director Jim Behmer said he received a call about a 6-inch water main break on Innes Street between Merritt Avenue and Grove Street between 5 and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

By 4 p.m., two crews had pinpointed that the pipe had a crack at the bottom and had installed a valve.

Traffic was detoured during the repair work.

Behmer said a water main break can be caused by a dramatic change in temperature, freezing and thawing of the pipes, material defects over time and failures. He said low temperatures were the cause of about 50 water main breaks in January.

He said pipes generally last 50 years or more. Salisbury-Rowan Utilities will replace pipes that consistently break to prevent others from breaking in the future.

A metal plate was laid at the location of the pipe break. Behmer said crews will repave the section of road today.

To stay up-to-date on traffic delays and sever eweather, Behmer recommends residents use the Nixle app and report water main breaks by calling 704-638-5390 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

After hours and on weekends or holidays, residents can call 704-638-5339.