MONTREAL - A water main break is once again causing major problems with traffic in Montreal.
Overnight a pipe burst on Decarie Blvd. near Van Horne Ave. forcing the city to redirect southbound traffic around the affected area.
If it seems like deja vu, that's because it is. There was a water main break in the same area less than two weeks ago.
Police were on hand to redirect cars, but it was best to avoid the area if at all possible. CTV received reports of people stuck for 20 minutes without moving during the morning rush hour.
Borough officials say the break should be repaired by 2 p.m., but anticipate other problems in the area, where pipes were installed in the 1950s.
In April a water main broke on Decarie Blvd. between Queen Mary and Cote St. Luc roads, and although the initial repair was relatively quick, a series of pipes burst in the neighbourhood in the following weeks.
The city of Montreal is in the middle of a decades-long plan to repair and replace the long-neglected water delivery system in the city.
Montreal has an average of 29 water main breaks for every 100 kilometers of pipe, the worst record of any large Canadian city. It's estimated that 40 percent of the water that flows through pipes is lost to leaks.
