Repairs to large water main break on Alston Avenue in Durham could take all day

Repairs to a large water main break along Alston Avenue could stretch into Thursday evening.

A viewer alerted WRAL News to a water main break at 2423 South Alston Avenue before 4:30 a.m., but officials said the damage may have occurred even earlier.

At that time, large amounts of water were gushing across the road. Hours later, crews had stopped much of the water, but work to find the break, stop it and make repairs could take longer.

As of noon on Thursday, around 50 customers were out of service, Durham Water officials said.

The viewer had to turn around to avoid the area. She said this portion of Alston Avenue is well traveled and a popular way to get to the Durham Freeway and Cornwallis Road.

Crews at the scene told WRAL News there are multiple water lines in the area -- including an 8-inch and an 18-inch. Due to the large volume of the water gushing down the road, they worry the larger main broke, and repairs could be extensive.

Drivers can use N.C. Highway 55 as an alternate route.

Durham Water said the goal was to have water services restored and the road reopened by 6 p.m. Thursday. The condition of the water main could impact reopening time though, officials said.