Repair to sinkhole will take weeks

THE damage caused by a burst Selly Oak water main which led a road to collapse will not be repaired for weeks yet.

Severn Trent Water says the company hopes to start to repair the burst main under Harborne Lane in the middle of January.

Engineers have been assessing how to fill the hole, caused by flooding from a burst water main at the end of last month.

The pipe is buried six metres underground, and Severn Trent Water is stabilising the area so the road can be re-opened without affecting local water supplies.

“This is a very difficult job,” said a spokesman for the water company. “We need to make sure we come up with the best way to do the repair that will make sure there are no further issues and with the absolute minimum disruption for the local people.

“There’s a big hole where the burst pipe is, and the road surface is damaged. The pipe is six metres underneath so it’s going to be a big job to fix.

“We’ve been working in nearby allotments and around the city to get things ready for when we start the repair.

“We need to make sure we can do the repair without affecting water supplies.

“To fix the pipe, we will need to keep part of the road closed.

“At the moment we’re aiming to start work at the site in the middle of January.”

The sinkhole appeared after the mains pipe burst on November, turning the road into a river.

Road engineers have been searching for voids – underground spots where soil has been washed away – and have been using ground-penetrating radar.