One tube of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway will be closed after this evening's rush hour for repairs on a water main pipe that broke yesterday afternoon and forced traffic onto southbound Interstate 895, said a Maryland Transportation Authority spokeswoman.

While the southbound tunnel is closed, traffic through the northbound tunnel will run in both directions, said Lori A. Vidil, the spokeswoman. She said the southbound tunnel should reopen by 5 a.m. tomorrow.

The steel pipe, between the northbound and southbound tubes, broke shortly after noon, and about 6,000 gallons of water leaked into a collector area between the tunnels, Vidil said.

The southbound tunnel was closed for about three hours, and traffic was detoured to Interstate 95 at Keith Avenue and then through the Fort McHenry tunnel, Vidil said.

Pub Date: 8/20/98