City crews are estimating it will take until the end of the week to repair a major watermain break in the northeast.

The line ruptured Sunday, flooding McKnight Boulevard west of 36th Street. As many as 100,000 people were without water for about five hours.

Dan Limacher, manager of construction for the waterworks department, says the cold weather experienced in the fall is causing the present problem. The frost seems to have set in the ground deeper than in other winters, he says.

McKnight Boulevard will be closed at 36th Street for the rest of the week while crews work on the repairs.