Broken Bend water line repaired; bridge reopens

A 16-inch water line broke near Bend’s Portland Avenue Bridge Sunday afternoon, forcing the city to close the bridge for several hours while repairs were made, officials said.

Portland Avenue traffic was detoured to Newport Avenue, said city spokeswoman Anne Aurand.

Crews excavated the line to determine the cause of the break, Aurand said. Staff were able to complete the repairs by about 10 p.m., she added.

No water service was lost, Aurand said, and no flooding occurred as a result, as the water went into the Deschutes River.