Water main break damages Green Street roadway, sidewalk in Brattleboro

By about 10 a.m. Monday, both lines had been repaired and water service had been restored throughout the area.

A water main failure on Green Street left sections of pavement and sidewalk damaged and prompted temporary repairs to keep traffic moving ahead of the school week, according to town officials.

Dan Tyler, who leads the Department of Public Works, said the affected stretch near Green Street School will need new paving from the top of the road to close to the school. Crews have been working to stabilize the area and make it safe for vehicles, including buses, as classes resume. Some sidewalk replacement is also expected over the next couple of weeks.

The first break was reported around 6:30 p.m. Sunday on Green Street. A second break followed about two hours later on Pine Street near Fuller Drive. Tyler said inspectors found a fracture on the underside of the Green Street pipe and noted that the timing of the two failures suggests they may be connected, though no clear cause has been identified.

By about 10 a.m. Monday, both lines had been repaired and water service had been restored throughout the area. Because pressure dropped in some parts of town, especially higher elevations and locations directly affected by the breaks, officials issued a precautionary boil water notice. Tyler said contamination is not believed to have occurred, but water samples were sent to a lab and will take 24 hours to process.

The cost of the damage has not yet been calculated, though Tyler said the repairs will not be inexpensive. Green Street School had an in-service day for teachers and staff Monday, which gave road crews some flexibility, and officials said the area should be ready for regular school traffic. Some portions may remain gravel temporarily, but they are expected to be passable and kept open for drop-offs and pickups.