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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Experts assessing collapsed road | Experts assessing collapsed road |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Engineers have begun an investigation into why a road in Belfast city centre collapsed and how to repair the damage. | Engineers have begun an investigation into why a road in Belfast city centre collapsed and how to repair the damage. |
| The rupture in Cromac Street was discovered early on Saturday. It could take at least a week to repair. | |
| It is understood an emergency meeting will be held on Sunday to discuss the potential traffic disruption in the city centre. | It is understood an emergency meeting will be held on Sunday to discuss the potential traffic disruption in the city centre. |
| The depression in the road is above a storm-water tunnel in the multi-million pound Belfast Sewers Project. | The depression in the road is above a storm-water tunnel in the multi-million pound Belfast Sewers Project. |
| Work has been ongoing since 2005 on constructing a six-mile network of tunnels running underneath the city. | Work has been ongoing since 2005 on constructing a six-mile network of tunnels running underneath the city. |
| Assurances | |
| The key junction in the sewerage network is located at Cromac Street, in the area of the collapsed road. | The key junction in the sewerage network is located at Cromac Street, in the area of the collapsed road. |
| In a statement, NI Water said staff were "working closely with other utilities to secure the site". | In a statement, NI Water said staff were "working closely with other utilities to secure the site". |
| The tarmac on the road began tearing up on Saturday morning | The tarmac on the road began tearing up on Saturday morning |
| Alex Maskey, who is a Sinn Fein MLA for south Belfast, said that he has received assurances from NI Water that the Belfast Sewers Project has been "in no way affected" by the road's collapse. | |
| Mr Maskey added that he wanted to commend the Roads Service for their "swift response" to the incident and said he was grateful that no-one had been injured. | |
| 'Belfast Sleech' | |
| Cromac Street has been closed at its junction with East Bridge Street, and a number of road diversions have been put in place. | |
| Metro bus services are being diverted onto Ormeau Avenue and Linenhall Street, with Ulsterbus services travelling via the Short Strand and Queens Bridge. | |
| Roads Service spokesman Colin Brown said the city is built upon a deposit of soft clay, silt and mud known as "Belfast Sleech". | Roads Service spokesman Colin Brown said the city is built upon a deposit of soft clay, silt and mud known as "Belfast Sleech". |
| "Periodically we can get voids forming under the roads," he said. | "Periodically we can get voids forming under the roads," he said. |
| "Sometimes it's very clear what has caused it, other times it's quite a mystery." | "Sometimes it's very clear what has caused it, other times it's quite a mystery." |