Collapse of 19th-century sewer closes Portland street

PORTLAND — City workers are replacing 250 feet of antique sewer line after a section of Munjoy Street collapsed this morning.

A two- by four-foot hole, 12 feet deep, opened up in the street, between Moody and Wilson streets, after a city truck rolled over it while sanding the street, a city spokeswoman said.

The 18-inch diameter cement pipe was installed in 1860, said Nicole Clegg. It’s unclear how long the line has been broken, but over time it eroded the road base leading to this morning’s collapse.

Crews have installed a pump bypass so they can work to replace the section of line. The road will be closed until repairs are complete, which may not be until Friday, Clegg said.

Also this morning, Portland Water District crews are responding to a broken water line on Devonshire Street between Deering Avenue and Noyes Street. A leak in a 16-inch water main requires repairs, which could take until 7 p.m. tonight, said Michelle Clements, a spokeswoman for the district.

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