BRADENTON, FL — A Bradenton intersection is underwater after a Tuesday morning water main break flooded and shut down busy roads, downed a traffic signal, and backed up traffic.

The intersection at 59th Street W. and 29th Ave. W. will most likely remain closed to traffic until early Wednesday morning while city, county and Florida Power & Light crews work to repair the broken water main and downed traffic signal, Manatee County said in a news release.

A private contractor performing directional drilling hit a city of Bradenton water main around 9:30 a.m. The puncture in the water line led to rapid upwelling, causing erosion and the traffic-signal strain pole to collapse onto nearby power lines, the county said.

Bradenton City Administrator Rob Perry called the incident a "perfect storm" when the contractor, who was installing a fiber optic line, bore a hole into a 10-inch PVC water supply pipe, the city said in a news release.

Mayor Gene Brown said, "Our number one issue is, of course, public safety. We know it's an inconvenience for the intersection to be closed when people are trying to get home, but until we can ensure that it is safe to reopen, it will remain closed."

According to Jim McLellan, the city's public works and utilities director, the pipe was isolated around 3:30 p.m., and local water pressures were rising. He couldn't estimate when the repair could be safely made or how extensive it would be.

The roadway is expected to remain closed at least into the evening, the city said. Meanwhile, Manatee County leaders expects the intersection to reopen by Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m.

Repair work began shortly after the incident happened, continuing into the afternoon and evening, as teams worked to shut off the water, repair power lines and install a temporary traffic signal at the intersection.

"This morning, county traffic operations crews were called upon to assist with actions to stabilize the area and close the roadway until the water could be shut off," said Chad Butzow, director of Manatee County's Public Works Department. "Once the water is shut off, and repairs are made, conditions at the intersection will be inspected to determine if the road can be reopened before repairs are made to the traffic signal."

The G.T. Bray Recreation Center was closed through the end of Tuesday because of the incident. The recreation center will reopen Wednesday at 5:30 a.m.

Motorists should plan to take alternate routes and detours on 75th Street W. and 51st Street West via 18 Ave. West/17 Ave. West or Cortez Road, the county said.