A burst water main has forced the closure of Edward Street in Brisbane’s CBD, causing significant delays for commuters for almost a full day.

The water main burst outside the old People’s Palace building near the corner of Ann Street, sending water gushing down Edward Street, towards Adelaide Street.

At 7pm on Wednesday, Edward Street remained closed to all traffic between Ann and Queen streets.

Some bus services were delayed and others cancelled due to traffic congestion in the inner city as a result of the street closure.

“Traffic delays are expected throughout the CBD and surrounding streets, particularly during peak travel periods,” Brisbane City Council said in a statement.

“Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and seek alternative routes if possible.”

The water also went into an underground car park on Edward Street.

Urban Utilities crews were working to repair the main, but a police officer at the scene said the street was unlikely to reopen on Wednesday.

“Crews have turned the water off and are working with Energex to assess when repairs can be safely undertaken,” Urban Utilities said in a statement.

“Some businesses in the area will be temporarily without water while we carry out repairs.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.