Worcester Heard Street Bridge Structure Sound After Water Main Break

WORCESTER, MA — A portion of Heard Street in Worcester damaged by a Monday water main break will remain closed for at least another week for repairs, according to city officials.

An 8-inch water main that passes alongside the road over CSX train tracks south of Stafford Street ruptured early Monday morning, causing pieces of the roadway to fall off onto the tracks.

City officials say the bridge has been found to be structurally sound, and train traffic has resumed underneath the damage — but road repairs will take longer. As of Wednesday, city and state officials were working toward an agreement for repairs with a contractor.

"Once approval has been received, the contractor will commence work. The water main will also be repaired during this effort. It is expected to take up to a week to complete the repairs and open the roadway to traffic once again," officials said in a Wednesday news release.

Heard Street will continue to be closed between Stafford and Genesee streets. Pedestrians can use one side of the bridge, but drivers have to detour around the bridge using Route 12 southbound and Webster/Oxford streets toward Auburn.