Appleton Avenue Closed Overnight in Menomonee Falls Due to Water Main Break

Crews were busy overnight along Appleton Ave. in Menomonee Falls due to a water main break.  Shortly after midnight Appleton Ave was closed in both the north and southbound directions from Pilgrim Rd. to Elm Ln. due to the flooding.  At one point water covered the center median and surrounding area.

The northbound lane reopened to traffic shortly after 3 a.m. with a single lane in the southbound direction reopening after 4:30 a.m.  As of 7:30 a.m. crews still had one lane closed in the southbound direction, but hope to have it re-opened to traffic by the end of the day.

According to the Menomonee Falls Director of Utilities Jeff Nettesheim, it was a 12-inch main that broke and flooded the street.  Three businesses in the area lost water service as a result of the break.  Nettesheim said a portion of the main had to be cut out and replaced.   

Nettesheim says the exact cause of the break has not been determined but the main that broke was originally installed in the 1960s and age may be a factor.  How many gallons of water lost because of the break has not been determined.