Updated

A busy section of Interstate 25 reopened near downtown Denver on Friday, a day after three northbound lanes collapsed into a 40-foot-wide sinkhole.

Only three lanes were available instead of the normal six. Crews were still working nearby to repair a water line that burst and caused the sinkhole.

Northbound traffic was also using two lanes normally reserved for high-occupancy vehicles. Southbound lanes were not affected.

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The 16-foot-deep sinkhole opened Thursday just before the afternoon rush hour, forcing traffic to squeeze into two high-occupancy vehicle lanes or use crowded city streets.

Daily traffic in both directions where the break occurred averages up to 199,000 vehicles.

No vehicles fell into the water-filled crater. Gov. Bill Ritter said it was fortunate that no one was killed.

The Denver water department said about 2 million gallons gushed from the 66-inch water conduit. Officials said the break was likely caused by a pressure surge.

Crews were replacing a 30-foot-long section of the conduit. There was no immediate word on when they might finish.

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