A 12-inch water main break that flooded three lanes of the Baltimore Beltway's Outer Loop near Wilkens Avenue was expected to affect traffic through the evening rush, according to officials with Maryland's State Highway Administration and the city Department of Public Works.

The break happened about 1:25 p.m. on Shelbourne Road, according to public works spokesman Kurt Kocher, closing that street. Kocher said water had been shut off at the site, and about a dozen homes and Maiden Choice School were affected.

A spokeswoman for the SHA said the agency had deployed crews to assess the situation on Interstate 695, but that it was too early to determine the extent of damage. Authorities closed three lanes of the Beltway between Wilkens Avenue and Interstate 95, and they expected the shutdown to last through the evening rush.

Kocher said workers anticipate having the roads repaired by Wednesday morning.

Public works officials urged motorists to take an alternative route through Catonsville or pick up I-95 South through Howard County. The SHA advised Interstate 70 drivers to take U.S. 29 to Route 100 and I-95 to return to the Beltway; if traveling along I-695, the SHA advised taking I-70 to U.S. 29.