Massive Water Main Break Floods Attleboro Streets

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A massive water main break near the intersection of Henshaw Avenue and South Main Street in Attleboro, Massachusetts has flooded streets, disrupted water service, and snarled traffic in the area. Crews are working around the clock to fix the break, but the winter weather conditions are slowing progress and creating additional hazards like icing on the roads.

Why it matters

This infrastructure failure highlights the challenges cities face in maintaining aging water systems, especially during extreme weather. The disruption to daily life and potential impact on emergency response times underscores the need for proactive investment in infrastructure upgrades to prevent such costly and disruptive incidents.

The details

The water main break occurred on Monday evening, causing a large pool of water to engulf a residential area. South Main Street has been shut down in both directions, forcing drivers to find detours between Thurber Avenue and Locust Street. Fire Chief Scott Lachance warns that water pressure could drop significantly and tap water may be discolored during the repairs. The icy conditions are also creating hazards for anyone near the site, prompting authorities to urge residents to avoid the area entirely.

• The water main break occurred on Monday evening near the intersection of Henshaw Avenue and South Main Street.
• South Main Street has been shut down in both directions since the incident began.

What they’re saying

What’s next

As crews continue to work on the water main break, authorities will monitor the situation and provide updates on the progress of the repairs and the impact on the community. The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the suspect out on bail.