Jorge Berrios of Ft Meyer Construction w those now dealing w th 12th st water main #Metro! service back UP! #WTOP pic.twitter.com/tgqsjMDCGA
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
12th St remains CLD btwn E/F sts for water main repairs #WTOP pic.twitter.com/YSrsqSExpX
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
12th st could be CLSD 10 to 12 hrs btwn E and F sts NW @dcwater #WTOP pic.twitter.com/bqE8AraW4C
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
12th st CLSD btwn F and E sts at Metro Center. Water main repairs cud take thru evening rush #DCtraffic #WTOP pic.twitter.com/PMSTCinbaT
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
Photo showing water level after receding at Federal Triangle. #wmata pic.twitter.com/pjGqGQ9kmL
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) December 16, 2014
This photo shows water above the rail earlier this morning at Federal Triangle. All back to normal now. #wmata pic.twitter.com/yagjBI6wX3
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) December 16, 2014
Two more pics from Federal Triangle earlier. #wmata pic.twitter.com/Jlp8faJiLs
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) December 16, 2014
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/371431.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/371432.jpg)
DCwater/WMATA plumbers at CLSD metro center bc 12th st water main break CLSD prts of BL/ORG/SLVR lines #WTOP pic.twitter.com/5LGyFAXfIj
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
Water fr 12th st water main break poured into Metro Center tunnels #WTOP pic.twitter.com/iDYSnFieZT
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
CLSD btwn L'Enfant/FarragutW #Metro BL/ORNG/SLVR bc of water main break on 12tg CLSD btwn Penn/F #WTOP pic.twitter.com/4vfnaAgUW6
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
Metro Center at 12th/G already clsd. Shuttle bus locales 4 BL/ORNG/SLVR still unclear. ALT trans recommended #WTOP pic.twitter.com/TvgXpEe7qA
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
12th at CLSD btwn F/Penn. #Metro Bl/Orange/SLVR lines CLSD btwn FauragutW/L'enfant Plza #WTOP pic.twitter.com/a13JouSRMN
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
FarragutW shuttle stop at 17th/I. Mult busses picking up passengers quickly. CLSD parts of BL/ORNG/SLVR lines. #WTOP pic.twitter.com/j4xNeCmiMc
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
Some Metro passengers at FarragutW happy w quick shuttle service #WTOP pic.twitter.com/apvJKJ1ncm
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
@WTOP @WTOPtraffic Many exit/entrances are also closed to the public in metro center #NightmareCommute #WMATA pic.twitter.com/KVZGOvKbG7
— Chang (@Changize) December 16, 2014
Good customer service fr #Metro's Dre Butler at FarragutW shuttle stop #WTOP pic.twitter.com/RVG87wADxa
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
@WTOP allegedly regular service on #RedLine , but photo tells the story. @wmata pic.twitter.com/YFcvS0Knui
— thedctweeter (@thedctweeter) December 16, 2014
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/371431-260x174.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/371432-260x174.jpg)
WASHINGTON — Three Metro lines are up and running Tuesday morning after a water main break caused a major headache for commuters on the rail and the road.
Service was suspended on Metro’s Blue, Orange and Silver lines between McPherson Square and L’Enfant Plaza because of a water main break at 12th and F streets near Metro Center.
Although Metro trains are running, the water main break is still causing delays above ground. In Northwest D.C., 12th Street is closed between E and F streets.
D.C. Water says the 12th Street closure will last until some time between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. while repairs are being made.
The break, which occurred at about 5 a.m., affected tens of thousands of commuters. Metro service was restored on the lines by about 8:40 a.m.
During the service suspension, Metro advised customers to consider alternate travel options.
“There is going to be no way to sugar coat this — you’re going to want to seek alternate travel options if your travel takes you anywhere on the Blue, Orange or Silver lines [Tuesday] morning,” Metro Spokesman Dan Stessel said.
Earlier Tuesday, Stessel said the rail suspension could last through the day, but updated the estimate at about 8:30 a.m., saying rail service could be restored “in the next hour.”
The rails were submerged at the stations, Stessel says. When the main broke, water entered from the 12th and F streets’ entrance and flowed through the station, causing the rails to be underwater.
During the suspension, service on the Yellow, Green and Red lines operated normally.
While Metro’s lines faced delays, there was extra traffic through downtown D.C. Metro attempted to provide bus service to commuters who couldn’t take the rail service, but as Stessel noted, “it will take hundreds of buses in the height of rush hour to replicate that level of service that would normally be operating on Metro rail.”
Some Metro passengers at FarragutW happy w quick shuttle service #WTOP pic.twitter.com/apvJKJ1ncm
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 16, 2014
Crews worked to pump the water out of the submerged stations and they gave the all-clear at about 8:30 a.m. Metro deployed a few test trains before allowing passenger trains to travel.
The 12-inch water main that broke was installed in 1953. Two buildings in downtown D.C. are without water Tuesday morning.
Earlier, Metro suspended service between Farragut West and Metro Center, but extended the suspension at about 8 a.m.
@WTOP @WTOPtraffic Many exit/entrances are also closed to the public in metro center #NightmareCommute #WMATA pic.twitter.com/KVZGOvKbG7
— Chang (@Changize) December 16, 2014
Follow @WTOP and @WTOPTraffic on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.