NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - Crews from the Mohawk Valley Water Authority have sealed off a section of Commercial Drive as they fix a broken water main.

The kicker - it's all happening right outside of Sangertown Square Mall during peak holiday shopping.

Traffic is moving pretty well even though a section is still sealed off, but most of Commercial Drive - from Panera through the Sangertown Square Mall - is moving smoothly.

Around 7 a.m. crews began searching for a water main break - a main that serves Café Del Buono and other nearby businesses.

Around 9 a.m., they had located the break, and begun taking steps to fix it.

Project supervisors say it's not a huge project - just a 12-inch break but one they had to get to because of all the businesses that were without water.

The weather has cooperated, making this process go by faster, but officials say it's not something they hoped to put off for a few more days.

"We found out yesterday, and it was real bad," said Vinny Pristera, assistant water supervisor. "It was getting away, but it started getting worse as the day progressed. We were going to try and let it get away until after Christmas because of traffic and stuff but it didn't work out that way."

They expect to be finished within an hour or two.

DOT officials stressed that the work must be finished as soon as possible.