The Canfield Police Department is reporting that a bridge on Herbert Road over the Ohio Turnpike is open again after a water main break forced its closure due to hazardous driving conditions.

The closure affected the bridge located just west of the intersection of State Route 46 and Shields Road. Police say the bridge reopened late Wednesday morning.

According to the American Water Works Association, the primary cause of these failures in frigid weather is the physical stress placed on pipes by shifting soil. When the ground freezes, it expands and puts pressure on buried infrastructure.

Brittle materials like cast iron are particularly susceptible to this pressure. Additionally, the temperature of the water inside the pipes can cause the metal to contract. The combination of internal contraction and external soil pressure often leads to a break or split in the line.