Fareham Sinkhole Shuts Major Road – Drivers Told to Steer Clear!
A gaping sinkhole has forced authorities to shut Bishopsfield Road, off The Avenue in Fareham, this afternoon. Police and Highways officials are urging drivers to avoid the area as chaos looms.
Water Main Burst Blamed for Road Collapse
Portsmouth Water quickly isolated a fractured six-inch water main, believed to be the culprit behind the sudden sinkhole. The break has also impacted local homes, leaving residents without water.
Traffic Cops and Stop/Go Boards Struggle to Manage Flow
Stop/Go boards are in place but traffic snarls are already mounting. The sinkhole appeared just after 2:30pm, throwing a spanner in the works during ongoing carriageway improvements on the already busy A27.
Fix Underway as Engineers Race Against Time
Portsmouth Water’s engineering director, Rod Porteous, said from the scene: “We have a team dealing with a burst six-inch water main and are working as quickly as possible to restore supply to those affected.”
Structural engineers are expected shortly to assess the damage, but motorists are warned to brace for inevitable delays while crews work to repair the road and water supply.