Updated: Water Main Break Shuts Down Route 19 in Cranberry

Update: The water main break has been repaired. Route 19 North is now down to single lane north of American Way while pavers work to make road repairs.

 A portion of Route 19 in Cranberry was shut down Thursday because of a major water main break.

The northbound lanes of the highway were closed from the Cranberry Square shopping plaza to Rochester Road.

Cranberry's public works crews worked to repair the 12-inch water main. Fire and police officers also directed traffic.

Motorists experienced traffic delays in the area. Northbound Route 19 traffic was being rerouted through the Cranberry Square shopping plaza to Executive Drive and then Rochester Road. 

Jason Dailey, Cranberry's director of public works, said a pipe ruptured beneath the road near the Dentistry for Kids office at about 4 p.m. The break caused water to flood the parking lot area in front of the dentist's office.

The water was high enough to partially cover a Dumpster in the parking lot. Crews pumped out the water from the area. Water also flooded parts of the closed portion of Route 19.

Dailey said he expected crews to have to work throughout the evening to repair the ruptured line.

"These are not typical," he said of the water main break.

Township manager Jerry Andree said a single northbound passing lane may be open by 8 p.m. The other lane will remain closed while crews repair the 46-year-old underground pipe.

The break caused The Streets of Cranberry shopping center to lose water service. There was no disruption to service elsewhere in the township, Andree said.