An update has been given on an ongoing road closure in Canterbury following a disruptive water main burst. Households in the St Martin’s area have faced issues with supplies throughout this week due to the burst which took place on Saturday (January 11).
As response crews worked to identify the source of the burst, a road closure and temporary traffic lights were put in place on the A257 St Martin’s Hill, outside the Chaucer House care home. And yesterday (January 15), South East Water confirmed supplies had been restored to all customers in the affected CT1 area.
However, investigations and repairs are ongoing which mean the road closure and traffic signals on St Martin’s Hill remain in place. South East Water has been granted a permit from Kent County Council (KCC) to carry out the works until midnight on Friday (January 17).
But it is not yet known if any further extensions of the permit will be required at this stage. South East Water says crews are working “as quickly and safely as possible”.
South East Water’s distribution manager, Adam Newbury, said today (January 16): “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused by the closure of St Martin’s Hill in Canterbury. This is for the safety of the public and our workforce as we carry out repairs to a burst water main in the area.
“We know road closures can be frustrating for motorists and we apologise for this. Due to the added complications of other utilities being close by, this is a complex repair and we cannot give an exact timeframe on how long the road closure will be in place for.
“Our permit with KCC has been extended until midnight on Friday and our team is working as quickly and safely as possible to complete the repair and get the road re-opened. We thank the community for their patience and understanding while we carry out this important work.”
While the closure and temporary lights are in place, KCC Highways has urged drivers to “allow extra time for your journey and expect delays in the area”.
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