MERRIFIELD, Va. - One lane of the Capital Beltway's Inner Loop remains closed Friday morning because of a water main break where I-495 passes over Route 29 in Merrifield.

Traffic and Weather Center's Lisa Baden says the right travel lane and the transition lane on the Inner Loop are blocked between Route 50 and Interstate 66.

Crews worked throughout the night to repair the 10-inch main but with no success. ABC 7 News has now learned the main may be beyond repair and crews could have to replace the system.

VDOT officials say they will not fully repair the main immediately, but rather cap it off and conduct repairs later on. They hope to have the lanes reopened and the main repaired by Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, VDOT is urging motorists to avoid traveling on the Beltway in Northern Virginia due to expected delays.

Crews are still trying to figure out what caused the 10-inch main to rupture early Thursday morning.

The Falls Church City Utility, which operates the main, has shut off water to the cast iron pipe, which is buried 11 feet deep.

Water pressure has been restored to the areas which lost service after the rupture, according to the utility.

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