ASHLAND — A broken water main on U.S. 23 snarled traffic in South Ashland Wednesday, sending motorists on detours through residential streets while workers replaced the broken pipe.

Repairs to the 16-inch iron water line are likely to keep the section of the highway between Blackburn Avenue and 39th Street closed all day today and possibly into Friday, city officials say.

The break caused temporary drops in water pressure in some areas, but outages were minimal, according to officials.

The water line, one of the city’s largest, broke between 2 and 3 a.m. Wednesday in the 4200 block, said city engineering director Ryan Eastwood. The line feeds much of Catlettsburg, the refinery area and part of South Ashland.

It left a hole about 15 feet long in the center of the highway, he said.

Workers isolated the broken section by closing valves and removing the broken pipe section. A supplier was expected to deliver a new section in time to get it in place by Wednesday night; contractors are expected to fill the hole today. The fast-curing concrete filler should allow paving contractors to apply new asphalt this afternoon.

Officials may be able to open one lane sometime today, but that is not certain. If a lane were to open, traffic would be directed using flaggers.

It is more likely the entire road will be reopened sometime Friday, Eastwood said.

Until then, motorists will continue using the detour route set up Wednesday.

The detour sends vehicles coming from Ashland right on 39th Street, then left on Gartrell Street, right on Russell, left on Blackburn and back to U.S. 23. Coming from Catlettsburg the route is reversed.

However, traffic is heavy on the detour route and city engineering director Ryan Eastwood recommended motorists from Ashland make a wider detour, turning right on 29th Street, bearing left to Belmont Street, then right on Blackburn and left on Ky. 168 (South Belmont).

Ky. 168 bypasses the area, bringing traffic into Catlettsburg via Paul Purvis Road.

Truck and commercial traffic is being redirected by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to U.S. 60 and I-64, according to spokesman Allen Blair. The Cabinet has placed digital message boards at key locations and notified truckers via a text messaging system, Blair said.

The city is turning trucks away from the detour route, which snakes through residential neighborhoods, Eastwood said. Some trucks are getting through, however, and that may result in damaged curbs and hydrants, he said.

The water line break has prompted the city of Ashland to issue a boil-water advisory for customers living in the following areas: Winchester Avenue from 39th Street to 45th Street, Belmont Street to Blackburn Avenue, Blackburn Avenue from Belmont to Winchester Avenue, Gartrell Street, Sharon Road, Avery Street, Duke Street, Queen Street, Earl Street, Poplar Street, Keeney Street, Baer Street, Nervie Street, Jones Avenue, Skidmore Avenue, Vernon Street, Cabell Street, Summit Street, Virgin Street, Gussler Street, Jepson Street, Diniaco Court, Nancy Court, Russell Street, James Court, Frederick Street, Richardson Road, Crittenden Drive, Ridgeway Avenue, Chadwick Street, Gartrell Court, Leaf Court, Eves Court, Garden Court, Eden Place, Mound Street, Emery Street, 43rd Street, 44th Street, Hunt Street, Cheer Street, Birch Street, Cherington Street, Daniels Street, Brown Avenue, Woodspoint, Boy Scout Road to Floyd Street and Wildwood Drive to Rt. 60.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.