A ruptured water main caused serious delays during peak-hour traffic in Wellington on Tuesday afternoon.
The pipe started gushing water just after 4pm at a work site at Manners Mall after an excavator apparently hit it.
Wellington City Council says police had to block traffic up Victoria Street, which caused wider congestion problems and brought the CBD to a virtual standstill for a time.
Spokesperson Richard MacLean says the damage to the water line was significant.
