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Broken water pipe leads to shutdown of I-694 for days in Oakdale, Minn. | Aggregate, Excavation, Dump Truck Company

Interstate 694 remained shut down in Oakdale, Minnesota, today after a water pipe broke beneath the interstate, causing a giant sinkhole and water to flow onto the interstate Sunday.

MNDOT officials said the interstate could remain shut down for days while repairs are made.

The closure is from  I-94 on the south to Hwy. 36 on the north, officials said. However, drivers were being allowed to get onto the interstate from 10th Street to head south to I-94, and from County Road 14 to head north to Hwy. 36.

The section of interstate that’s affected in the east metro area of the Twin Cities. Traffic is being rerouted to I-94, I-35E and Hwy. 36, and traffic was backing up for miles as the rush hour began Monday.

The problem was first noticed in the southbound lane, near the 15th Street overpass, about 6 a.m. Sunday. Water pressure in some parts of the suburb of Oakdale dropped temporarily.

Oakdale Police spokeswoman Michelle Stark has been urging residents to conserve water and find alternative routes to 694 in that area as well as some local streets, which were closed due to the washout.

The city is investigating why the 12-inch-diameter pipe connected to the municipal water supply broke.

The section of interstate that’s affected carries about 87,000 vehicles a day. according to DOT spokesman Kevin Gutknecht.