NATCHEZ — City crews were able to repair a sewer and multiple water leaks at the intersection of Main and Canal streets earlier this week, but the roadway will remain a bit rocky until at least Monday.

Natchez Water Works Superintendent and City Engineer David Gardner said his department was unable to get an order of asphalt into Natchez to place over two large holes crews dug out Wednesday.

The crews dug out the holes after a depression formed in the road from the sewer and water leaks.

“It’s difficult to get asphalt in the winter time, because the only plant near us is shut down and won’t be back up until Monday, hopefully,” Gardner said. “If we could have gotten the asphalt, we would have fixed the road by now.”

Natchez Public Works alerted Water Works Wednesday morning after discovering a sewer leak.

While inspecting the sewer leak, Gardner said crews found multiple leaks in the area.

Several leaks were caused by bad joints on an eight-inch pipe just north of the manhole in the middle of the intersection.

Crews placed couplings around the joints to stop the leaks. But when the water was turned back on, the crews found more water leaking in a different place.

The depression in the road was caused, Gardner said, because the leaking water moved the supporting soil into the sewer line.

“We wish we didn’t have to fix any leaks, but it’s certainly unfortunate when it happens to be in one of the busiest intersections in Natchez,” Gardner said.

“We’re well aware of the issue and we’re doing the best we can to keep it maintained.”

Gardner said the cost to repair the street would come out of the department’s operational budget.

“This is a routine project for us and something we have to plan for throughout the year,” Gardner said. “It just happened to be that this one was right in the middle of downtown.”