HALIFAX -- A water-main break forced the closure of a major street in downtown Halifax on Thursday.

Barrington Street was closed to traffic between Duke and Prince streets as Halifax Water crews made repairs.

Halifax Transit was rerouting buses in the area.

Residents and businesses along Barrington Street, between Duke and Prince streets, were expected to be without water service until 2 p.m.

Barrington Street was expected to reopen at 4 p.m.

Halifax Water says some customers on the peninsula may experience temporarily discoloured water for roughly 24 hours. Customers experiencing discoloured water are encouraged to flush their cold water lines until the water is clear, and avoid consuming the water until it is clear. The utility says the water is safe for showering, bathing, cleaning, and flushing toilets.