Downtown Warren turned into a virtual parking lot Wednesday morning after a water main break near Crescent Street forced the closure of the northbound lane of Route 114 near Crescent Street.

Police were informed of the water main break at 6:45 and crews from CB Utility were dispatched to repair the problem. As of 9 a.m. they had opened up an eight-foot square hole in Main Street, as police alternated traffic in the southbound lane to let vehicles pass.

Cars whose drivers were unaware of the problem were backed up as far south as Campbell Street in Warren and as far north as Barrington Center.

As of yet there is no timeline on the completion of the work. Police are advising commuters to avoid downtown Warren if at all possible.

This is the second water main break associated with the Bristol County Water Authority's $2 million water main replacement project on Main and Water streets. The first occurred in early May, just days after the project began, just opposite Patriot Liquors.