‘Permanent solution’: Work begins Sunday to repair Ville-Marie water main pipe that burst in August

Work will begin Sunday to repair the 84-inch water main pipe that burst near downtown Montreal in August, creating a geyser near the Jacques Cartier Bridge and flooding streets, homes and businesses.

A six-metre segment of the pipe, which has not been operational since the break, will be replaced.

“We’re going to fix the situation here, we won’t have to come back, so it’s a permanent solution,” says Philippe Sabourin, a City of Montreal spokesperson, during a press conference at the site Wednesday.

On Aug. 16, the pipe burst and shot water 10 metres into the air. Water gushed into the streets – it was waist-high a times. About 50 homes and businesses were flooded, and power was cut to thousands. The main was capped about five-and-a-half hours after bursting.

The City of Montreal says repairs will last approximately four weeks, during which René-Lévesque Boulevard East will be completely closed to traffic between Notre-Dame Street East and De Lorimier Avenue.

“We know it’s going to be a rough time for Montrealers,” Sabourin said. “But it’s important, we have to do it in emergency because we know a part of the city depends on that water pipe. It’s a major one. It helps to bring the water into the east side of Montreal.”

Sabourin said there aren’t any concerns for the availability of tap water for eastern Montreal.

“But we know winter is coming and that urged the City of Montreal to conduct those construction works in order to lower down the time required and the cost.”

In the aftermath of the break, the city admitted the pipe had suffered corrosion over the years, but officials expected it to last another 10 to 15 years before it needed to be repaired.

The new part will be made of concrete and reinforced with steel and resin to help avoid corrosion during the winter and is expected to last up to 90 years.