Water main break creates brown river; shuts down road

KIRKLAND -- An early morning water main break sent thousands of gallons of water gushing onto 116th Ave NE in Kirkland forcing crews to shut down a road and work around the clock to replace the ten-inch pipe.

The Northshore Utility District said the ruptured pipe was discovered just after midnight this morning. It took crews several hours to locate the rupture and remove a 16-foot section of cracked pipe.

The rupture did not cause a loss in service. Everyone in the area should have running water. Residents should not have to boil water or see any discoloration.

Crews had to shut down a section of 116th Ave NE in both directions for several hours. Commuters trying to access the nearby Kingsgate Park and Ride cannot get there on NE 132nd Street. Drivers must take NE 128th Street and then head north of 116th Ave NE.

Northshore Utility officials hoped to open a portion of 116th Ave NE later this morning.