Water main break causes 9-hour closing of Merrick Road in Bellmore

A water main break forced the closure of a major Nassau County intersection in Bellmore for almost nine hours Friday, police said.

Merrick and Newbridge roads were fully open by 7 p.m. after repairs on a 12-inch, cast iron main that broke about 10:30 a.m. and flooded the area, authorities said.

About 20 commercial customers remained without water, said Peter Eschbach, spokesman for New York American Water.

Eschbach said the pressure of the water had forced the roadway surface to rise up like a "speed bump."

The cast iron main, anywhere from 3 to 6 feet into the ground, probably dates back to around 1929 so its age makes it prone to breaks, he said.