Rte. 1 closed due to water main break

5:08 p.m. Update:

A 16-inch water main break caused massive delays during evening rush hour Wednesday on Route 1, closing traffic in both lanes from Sunnyside Avenue to Ewing Road.

Crews from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission were working last night to repair the break in the 10600 block of Route 1, Lyn Riggins, a WSSC spokeswoman said.

Traffic on Rhode Island Avenue moving northbound onto Route 1 could still merge onto the highway, Riggins said.

She said it was unclear Wednesday how many customers might be affected by the water main break until crews were able to shut down valves. Some customers in the area were experiencing low pressure.

Mark Brady, the spokesman for the Prince George's Fire Department, said incident commanders were at the scene, waiting to hear from WSSC about whether fire hydrants in the area were affected.

"If they are we can relocate water tankers that can carry up to 2,000 gallons of water, so we would have it on hand," Brady said. "We are monitoring it very closely and working with WSSC."

Officials did not have an estimate for when the repairs would be completed.

WSSC provides water and sewer services to 1.8 million residents in Prince George's and Montgomery counties.

-- Ovetta Wiggins

4:30 p.m. Update: Crews have broadened the area closed due to the water main break. It now extends from Sunnyside Avenue to Ewing Road.

Original post: Maryland Route 1 is closed in both directions between Ewing Road and Montgomery Road in Beltsville due to a water main break. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission officials warn that there is flooding and drivers should avoid the area. Traffic on Rhode Island Avenue can access Route 1.

The WSSC said crews are at the scene working on repairs to a 16-inch water main, and residents and businesses in the area may be experiencing low water pressure.

Expect significant delays in the area, especially with holiday crowds heading to Costco and other shopping nearby destinations.