Colesville Road in Silver Spring reopens after water main break

The lanes had been closed since Sunday morning

January 22, 2024 3:59 p.m.

This story, originally published on Jan. 22, 2024 at 10:59 a.m., was updated at 2:15 p.m. to add that the road has reopened.

The southbound lanes of Colesville Road just north of University Boulevard in Silver Spring have reopened this afternoon after a water main break on Sunday, according to the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security.

The closure was at Lorain Avenue between Southwood Avenue and Timberwood Avenue, between the Four Corners and Burnt Mills areas of Silver Spring.

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At 8:57 a.m. Sunday, Montgomery County Police said that a water main break shut down two southbound lanes and one northbound lane of Colesville Road (U.S. 29) at Southwood Avenue.

All northbound lanes reopened Monday morning, according to the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security.

At 8:25 a.m. Monday, WSSC Water posted on X, formerly Twitter, that crews had restored water service to the area, they were “making great progress” repairing the main break and that they hoped to reopen the road by evening rush hour.

There was also a water main break Saturday at Knowles Avenue and Beach Drive in Kensington; at 4:13 p.m. Sunday, WSSC Water said that all lanes had reopened.

According to WSSC Water’s website, “When cold weather arrives, the chance of water main breaks jumps by about 60% compared to warmer months.”

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This is because: “A sudden temperature drop causes a kind of shock to pipelines,” and “water temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit can make pipes, including underground pipes, more brittle,” the website said.

Over the weekend, temperatures ranged from the 20s to the low 30s in Montgomery County, which is some of the coldest weather the area has gotten so far this winter.

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