Water main break floods roads, shuts down streets in Highlands neighborhood

DENVER – A major water main break flooded roads and shut down several streets in the Highlands neighborhood early Saturday afternoon.

Roads in the area of 29^th Avenue and Zuni were closed due to a severe amount of water gushing out onto the streets, according to Denver Police Department spokesman Dough Schepman.

Watermain break 29th and Zuni @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/mMwZg7h5S9

— Mike Erickson (@KMGHPhotogMike) January 28, 2017

This Subaru Forrester is not having a good day on W 29th Ave. @DenverChannel #Watermainbreak pic.twitter.com/FFQh715nJv

— Mike Erickson (@KMGHPhotogMike) January 28, 2017

The 24-inch water main break affected roads from West 29th Avenue and Zuni to Umatilla and in the area of 15th and Platte Streets, a DPD officer at the scene said through a tweet.

#Traffic: Water main break causing several road closures W 29th Ave from Zuni to Umatilla & in area of 15th St/Platte St. Please avoid areas pic.twitter.com/ehlmJsTsoE

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) January 28, 2017

The water main break also affected traffic on southbound I-25, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. 

Water main break in Denver on Zuni st water pooling I-25 SB under 15 st bridge;Slower spds R advised if you encounter standing water

— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) January 28, 2017

Denver Water crews found the break at around 1:30 p.m. and were working to shut off water at 29th and Zuni. Water was restored at around 3:45 p.m. Sunday

Natural Grocers, at the corner of 15th and Platte Streets, was closed due to the flooding, according to a representative.

At around 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Denver Water officials said West 29th Avenue will be closed from Zuni Street to Umatilla Street until Sunday afternoon.

Denver Water crews were on-scene overnight Sunday, draining the ruptured pipe. Officials announced on Twitter four buildings in the area would be without water.

Residents near the 29th Avenue stretch told Denver7 they took measures into their own hands and bought bottled water to use for brushing their teeth and for cooking purposes.

Early Sunday, Denver Water posted a release that stated water should be restored by 2 p.m.

Denver7 spoke with John Flaherty, a resident living along 29th Avenue, closest to where the pipe burst. "I saw a couple people try to wedge through it to get to their yoga classes and stuff."

Denver Water officials told Denver7 they don't have an estimate of how much water was lost. 

Officials said there are several issues that can lead to a main break including the change in temperature, pipe age and material, soil type, and water flow. 

Denver Water said the 24-inch pipe that burst was originally installed in 1889, making it nearly 130-years-old.