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Southern Water engineers to repair Military Road in Sandgate after hole opened up

Repairs will be carried out this week to a road which collapsed in Sandgate last week.

Engineers from Southern Water will make their final repairs to Military Road tomorrow after initial work took place at the end of last week.

The hole, which opened up last Thursday, was not a sinkhole but caused by a burst pipe that washed away ground under the road surface.

The road is not a sinkhole but caused by a burst water pipe washing earth away under the road surface. Picture: Gary Browne
The road is not a sinkhole but caused by a burst water pipe washing earth away under the road surface. Picture: Gary Browne

This caused the road to collapse and cave in causing "a void" about a foot deep by the junction with Bybrook Way.

Police were called shortly after 3pm and officers helped traffic control.

Traffic lights were put in place and a first-fix was made on Friday so the lights could be removed in time for the Bank Holiday weekend, a Southern Water spokesman said.

Stop-and-go boards will be in place throughout Wednesday to enable workmen to complete the repairs.

Kent Highways confirmed the void was not a sinkhole and would be dealt with by Southern Water because the fault was cause by a burst water pipe.

The hole is now coned off and road controlled by temporary traffic lights. Picture: Gary Browne
The hole is now coned off and road controlled by temporary traffic lights. Picture: Gary Browne

Southern Water engineers were called to the scene and Kent Highways said the pipes under the surface had been earmarked for repairs already but had not yet taken place.

A Southern Water spokesman said: "We repaired a collapsed sewer in Military Road, Sandgate, on Friday, and temporarily resurfaced the road.

"So we could remove the temporary traffic lights before the Bank Holiday weekend, we did not complete the full road repair on Friday.

The sinking road is believed to be the result of a burst water pipe. Picture: Kent999s
The sinking road is believed to be the result of a burst water pipe. Picture: Kent999s

"Instead, we will return on Wednesday, when stop-and-go boards will be used to control traffic. The work should be complete Wednesday evening."

Motorists were told to avoid the area and use an alternative route while the hole was examined.

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