Traffic lanes reopen on U.S. 301 in Palmetto after water main breaks under road

Update: Road repairs are done, and all westbound lanes of U.S. 301 in Palmetto reopened at 10:47 a.m. on March 2.

Police have closed westbound lanes of U.S. 301 in Palmetto to traffic on Wednesday because of a water main break under the roadway.

The highway is closed for a little over a half-mile between 16th Avenue East and the entrance of the Walmart Supercenter at 508 10th Street.

“This closure may last for the next 24 hours because of the extensive excavation and repair work that must take place to fix the problem,” Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler said in a news release.

Traffic traveling west on U.S. 301 toward Palmetto will be detoured north onto 16th Avenue East and then west on 17th Street East to avoid the closure.

“We urge motorists to avoid this area until the roadway is restored. If you must travel through this area, expect congestion and travel delays. Please drive with patience as we work through these repairs,” Tyler’s email said.

This story was originally published March 1, 2023 at 2:08 PM.