Times Square Water Main Break Floods Subways: See The Shocking Photos

MIDTOWN, NY — A massive water main break below Times Square that flooded subways with nearly 2 gallons of water early Tuesday likely won't affect straphangers going forward, MTA officials said.

But the promise of no further disruptions likely will be cold comfort for the 300,000 daily riders on the 1, 2 and 3 lines who officials said were affected by mass delays during Tuesday's morning rush hour.

MTA crews scrambled all that morning to pump out water from the subway system while their Department of Environmental Protection counterparts worked to fix a break on a 20-inch water main running under Times Square that caused the flooding, officials said.

By 11 a.m., subway service had mostly returned to normal, said Richard Davey, president of New York City Transit.

"By rush hour tonight, should be no issues," he said Tuesday.

Dramatic photographs and videos taken by MTA workers showed the extent of flooding, as well as the gargantuan efforts to fix the problem.

The streets of Times Square itself flooded during the break, which officials said happened about 3 a.m. It took 90 minutes for the city to shut off the water, Davey said, adding that transit officials will press their city counterparts on the communication breakdown.

He said roughly 1.8 million gallons of water ultimately flowed down into the subway system.

"Anything that leaks in the city finds its way into our system,” he said.