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Water Main Breaks Closes Streets In Rittenhouse Square Shopping District

By Jennifer Bernstein And Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Crews from the Philadelphia Water Department fixed a water main break Sunday morning after it burst Saturday afternoon in Center City's shopping district. But some streets are not expected to reopen until later this week.

The 1600 block of Walnut Street is still closed.

Water Department spokesperson Laura Copeland says the main is fixed but the other utilities have to inspect the area and the Streets Department has to repair the hole before the streets can reopen.

The incident happened just before 4 p.m. Saturday along the 1600 block of Walnut Street. The Water Department says the 12-inch water main was shut down shortly after 6 p.m.

Officials say about 25 properties were impacted, including some businesses.  They say traffic was disrupted in and around the area. Traffic disruptions will continue through at least Sunday as well.

The department says some residential buildings and businesses lost water service after the break, but that service has been restored.

City workers also need to repave the street, so it's unclear how long it will be closed.

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