Major Sewer Collapse Shuts Down Busy Road, Snarling Rush Hour Traffic
Engineers have hit a wall trying to find the exact spot of a collapsed sewer pipe that’s causing chaos on a busy road. Despite working through the night and deploying specialist cameras, the search has been blocked by debris inside the pipe.
Night Shift Fails to Pinpoint Collapse
Drainage experts struggled as their cobra cameras couldn’t navigate the clogged sewer due to a buildup of waste. Even jetting the pipe hasn’t cleared the blockage enough to locate the damage. The collapse is hidden somewhere along a 128-metre stretch of a century-old sewer network that serves thousands of homes.
Gully Suckers Battle Backed-Up Waste
While engineers hunt for the fault, gully suckers have been working non-stop, removing tonnes of waste from the blocked section under the road. The disruption has caused rush hour delays on Fairlee Road and Coppin Bridge, as commuters face significant hold-ups.
Road Closure to Last Most of the Day
Southern Water confirmed the pipe, lying two metres underground, has collapsed. They’re using specialist equipment to tackle the problem and aim to complete repairs by the end of Thursday. The road will remain closed until the job is done, meaning more delays ahead for drivers.
