Swampscott crews working to repair broken water main

SWAMPSCOTT – Traffic will remain restricted on Franklin Avenue through Friday due to a massive water main break over the weekend.Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta said he received a call from the police department at 2:30 Saturday informing him of the water main break.”A good section of a 12-inch main ruptured,” Cresta said. “A 15-foot section fractured along the bottom of the pipe. It deteriorated due to age.”Cresta said crews were able to shut off the water to the main and stop the leak with little disruption to water service to residents in the area.”Once we shut it off, everyone had water,” he said. “There are not any homes that feed directly off that main.”Cresta said repairing the pipe has taken a backseat to storm cleanup.”When it rains, it pours – no pun intended,” he said. “The guys (DPW) have been very busy cleaning up storm damage.”Until the pipe is repaired, Jersey barriers will remain in place at the intersection of Paradise Road and Franklin Avenue.”Residents can access Franklin from Barnstable Street,” he said. “We have a sign board up on Barnstable announcing Franklin is not open to through traffic. The barriers could remain in place through the weekend.”