A downtown Lawrence street is expected to be closed for most of the day on Friday as city crews work to repair a water main break.

The portion of Seventh Street between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets is closed to traffic while crews tear up the street to get to the water main beneath the roadway. Crews began work at about 8:15 a.m., and a city press release estimated the street would be closed for “most of the day.”

It was unclear how many businesses in the downtown area may be without water, or whether some nearby restaurants, are able to continue operations while the waterline work is underway. City officials in the release said they are “notifying businesses affected by the water main break.”

The city noted the city’s fire safety system in downtown remained operational, as no fire