A portion of Route 19 in Cranberry remains shut down because of a major water main break Thursday afternoon.

The northbound lanes of the highway are closed from the Cranberry Square shopping plaza to Rochester Road.

Cranberry's public works crews are working to repair the 12-inch water main. Fire and police officers also are directing traffic.

Motorists can expect traffic delays in the area. Northbound Route 19 traffic is being rerouted through the Cranberry Square shopping plaza to Executive Drive and then Rochester Road. 

Jason Dailey, Cranberry's director of public works, said a pipe ruptured beneath the road near the Dentistry for Kids office at about 4 p.m. The break caused water to flood the parking lot area in front of the dentist's office.

The water was high enough to partially cover a dumpster in the parking lot. Water also flooded parts of the closed portion of Route 19.

Dailey said he expects crews to have to work throughout the evening to repair the line.

"These are not typical," he said of the water main break.

Township Manager Jerry Andree said a single northbound lane may be open by 8 p.m. The other lane will remain closed while crews repair the 46-year-old underground pipe.

The break caused The Streets of Cranberry shopping center to lose water service. There was no disruption to service elsewhere in the township, Andree said.

Check back with Patch for updates.