A break in a 12-inch water main flooded three lanes of the Beltway's Outer Loop near Wilkens Avenue on Tuesday and affected traffic throughout the evening rush hour, according to the State Highway Administration and city Department of Public Works.

The break happened about 1:25 p.m. on Shelbourne Road, according to public works spokesman Kurt Kocher, and the lanes on that street were closed down. Public works officials set up a temporary command center.

Kocher said water was shut off at the site. About a dozen homes and a Maiden Choice school were without water.

A spokeswoman for the SHA said the agency deployed crews to assess the situation on Interstate 695, but as of Tuesday evening it was too early to determine the extent of the damage. SHA officials closed three lanes of the Beltway between Wilkens Avenue and Interstate 95. Kocher said workers anticipate having the roads repaired by this morning.

Public works officials are urging motorists to take an alternative route through Catonsville or pick up I-95 South through Howard County. The SHA advises 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 advises taking I-70 to U.S. 29.