Water Main Break Causes Rt. 1 Headaches

PHILADELPHIA - A water main break in the far northeast section of Philadelphia forced lane closures on the northbound Roosevelt Boulevard Thursday morning, but those lanes have now reopened.

A break in an 8-inch main caused water to flow up onto the outer lanes of the boulevard at Southampton Road around 7 a.m.

Lanes in the outer and inner drive were blocked for portions of the morning commute in an area that gets extremely busy.

Motorists were urged Thursday morning to allow plenty of time, use caution and consider using Bustleton Avenue as an alternate.

The good news is that all lanes on Route 1 were reopened for the afternoon drive, although a shoulder  remains closed as does Southampton Road at the boulevard crossing.

Philadelphia Water Department crews were said to be making repairs to the broken main. No water service was being affected Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson said.