Southbound Georgia Avenue to Remain Closed for Part of Thursday

Update, July 21, 10 a.m. WSSC is "hopeful" that southbound Georgia Avenue will be reopened in time for Thursday's rush hour. The pipe that caused the break was repaired and water returned to customers late last night. Crews are now working on backfilling and repaving the road.

Update, 7:11 p.m. Commuters who use southbound Georgia Avenue will need to find an alternative route Thursday morning, as the roadway between Randolph Road and Henderson Avenue will remain closed through the morning and likely into the afternoon, according to WSSC.

The road was closed early Wednesday morning because of a water main break at 12102 Georgia Ave. The northbound lanes reopened around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Crews had difficulty shutting off the water, and a substantial portion of Georgia Avenue was undermined by the break. WSSC crews will work throughout the night to repair the pipe, backfill the site and then begin paving the roadway, according to a release by the water company.

Update, 8:30 a.m. All northbound lanes are currently reopen. 

According to Kira Lewis, a spokesperson for WSSC, the main broke shortly before 5 a.m. this morning. At this time, they do not have a cause for the break.

Lewis said that while residents may have seen periods of low pressure while the main was turned on, now that the main is shut off, residential customers should not be affected. Businesses near Shorefield and Wiseman Roads on Georgia are affected.

Lewis said southbound Georgia Avenue will be closed "at least into this evening."

Update, 7:40 a.m Water is out near Arcola avenue on the east side of Georgia,  twitter user bintmouris reports. Another Twitter user has water on the west side of Georgia further north at Newton.

Original story, 7:30 a.m. Two lanes of northbound Georgia Avenue and all lanes of southbound are closed after a water main break this morning near Shorefield Road.

WTOP is reporting that northbound lanes will be reopened as soon as the water main is turned off, but due to road damage, Georgia Avenue will likely be closed into Thursday. 

Alternate routes southbound include Kemp Mill Road from Randolph, Veirs Mill Road from Randolph, and Connecticut Avenue from Randolph.