The Hawthorne Bridge reopened to traffic Sunday evening after crews stanched the flow from a broken water main that flooded downtown streets.

The 16-inch cast iron water main, installed in 1958, broke Sunday around 11:45 a.m. and quickly flooded streets around the west end of the Hawthorne bridge.

Crews worked to isolate the water pipe Sunday afternoon and are still repairing the main break site at Southwest 1st Avenue and Southwest Madison Street, according to the Portland Water Bureau.

Southwest 1st Avenue between Southwest Jefferson and Southwest Salmon streets will remain closed until the water main is repaired and the street is temporarily restored, the bureau said. As of Sunday evening, access to the eastbound lanes of the Hawthorne Bridge is available only by the Southwest Naito Parkway onramp. Southwest Main and Salmon Streets are fully open.

It's not yet clear how much damage was caused to parts of the five buildings where water seeped in. A variety of downtown businesses and restaurants were experiencing discolored water, but the Water Bureau said that would clear up quickly and the water was safe to drink. It said residents should avoid running the water through filters, hot water heaters, and washing machines.

-Ted Sickinger

503-221-8505; @tedsickinger