Water main break closes portion of Lee Highway for hours

Utility crews work on repairing a broken water main Wednesday morning in Fairfax County. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Utility crews work on repairing a broken water main Wednesday morning in Fairfax County. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
A broken water main shut down a stretch of US 29 in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
A broken water main shut down a stretch of US 29 in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
The water main was confirmed broken around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
The water main was confirmed broken around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
Utility crews work on repairing a broken water main Wednesday morning in Fairfax County. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Utility crews work on repairing a broken water main Wednesday morning in Fairfax County. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
Fairfax Water said the water main would not be repaired before Wednesday's morning rush hour commute. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Fairfax Water said the water main would not be repaired before Wednesday’s morning rush hour commute. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax County, Virginia. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
<p>Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax County, Virginia. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)</p>
Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax County, Virginia. (WTOP/Michael O’Connell)
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Utility crews work on repairing a broken water main Wednesday morning in Fairfax County. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
A broken water main shut down a stretch of US 29 in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
The water main was confirmed broken around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Utility crews work on repairing a broken water main Wednesday morning in Fairfax County. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Fairfax Water said the water main would not be repaired before Wednesday's morning rush hour commute. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)
<p>Utility crews work on a broken water main in Fairfax County, Virginia. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)</p>
Utility crews work on repairing a broken water main Wednesday morning in Fairfax County. (WTOP/Michael O'Connell)

WASHINGTON — An early morning water main break closed U.S. 29/Lee Highway in Fairfax, Virginia, for hours on Wednesday.

The 12-inch main was confirmed broken around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at U.S. 29 and Blake Lane.

The northbound lanes reopened around 6:30 a.m.; the southbound lanes, at about 1 p.m.

Susan Miller, with Fairfax Water, told WTOP in an email that utility crews are at the scene working to confirm the number of customers who will be without water.

Below is a map of the affected area.

WTOP’s Anna Isaacs contributed to this report.

Will Vitka

William Vitka is a Digital Writer/Editor for WTOP.com. He's been in the news industry for over a decade. Before joining WTOP, he worked for CBS News, Stuff Magazine, The New York Post and wrote a variety of books—about a dozen of them, with more to come.

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