Repair work begins on water main pipe that burst in August and flooded homes, businesses

Work started on Sunday to repair the 84-inch water main pipe that burst near downtown Montreal in August, creating a geyser near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge that shot 10 water metres into the air and flooded streets, homes and businesses.

The City of Montreal says repairs will last approximately four weeks.

René-Lévesque Boulevard East will be closed to traffic between Notre-Dame Street East and De Lorimier Avenue.

Crews are repairing a 6-metres segment of the pipe with what the city calls a permanent solution.

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.

Even though traffic will be closed to motorists on René-Lévesque Boulevard in Montreal, the bike path will remain open.