Road closed and buses diverted due to burst water main in Wolverhampton city centre

Bell Street and Cleveland Street to the Snow Hill junction are closed except for access to car parks and a traffic diversion is in force as a result of repairs being carried out.

Emergency repair teams from Severn Trent Water went to the scene in Wolverhampton city centre after the burst pipe triggered a high-flow alarm at around 5.35am today.

All buses are being diverted along the Wolverhampton ring road until further notice. The Job Centre inside the Wulfrun Centre is closed with staff relocating to a nearby office due to no water.

Members of the team at the scene reported water flowing down the street which was ankle deep and said that the burst main would affect shops along the adjoining Wulfrun Centre, as well as the open air market.

Severn Trent distribution inspector Michael Dunn explained: "It's going to be a big job to fix.

"The mains pipe forks into two outside the market serving the Wulfrun Centre and towards Snow Hill.

"We have had to isolate one of the pipes to stop the flow. This means part of the shopping centre closer to the library junction has no water supply.

"The worst of it has passed. It looks less severe than it did this morning when we arrived and water was gushing down the road. It was ankle deep and the parking bays were lifting up due to the force of the flooding.

"We can't say at this stage how long it will take to complete the repairs. We need to drill down to take a look at the damage.

"It is a case of safety first."

A Severn Trent spokesman said: “A team is currently on Cleveland Street in Wolverhampton city centre, responding to a burst water main.

"We have isolated the burst and will now make a repair.

“Due to the location of the burst and to keep our teams and road users safe while we make this repair, a road closure will be in place.

"We understand that roadworks can be inconvenient and that this is a busy road, and our teams will be working to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and apologise for any disruption while we complete this work.”

A spokesman for National Express West Midlands said: "Cleveland Street in Wolverhampton closed due to a burst water main.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 15 and 16 buses diverted via Ring Road St Marks, Ring Road St John's and Snow Hill.

"Apologies for any inconvenience caused."

Both Wulfrun and Mander shopping centres and the car parks are open.

A Wolverhampton Council spokesman said: "Severn Trent Water have confirmed they expect the road closure on Cleveland Street to remain in place until Tuesday, September 3, while they carry out emergency repairs to a burst water main.

“The vehicular diversion route is now via Worcester Street from Pitt Street, Ring Road St Johns and Snow Hill.

"As it stands, Wolverhampton Market will be open as normal despite some disruption to vehicular access due to the works."