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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Road hole 'caused by air pocket' | Road hole 'caused by air pocket' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The collapse of one of Belfast's busiest roads was caused by an air pocket rising to the surface, an NI Water spokesman has said. | The collapse of one of Belfast's busiest roads was caused by an air pocket rising to the surface, an NI Water spokesman has said. |
| Bill Gowdy said the rupture in Cromac Street damaged an old Victorian sewer about four metres under the road. | Bill Gowdy said the rupture in Cromac Street damaged an old Victorian sewer about four metres under the road. |
| He said the air pocket was probably disturbed a year ago during work on the Belfast Sewers Project. | He said the air pocket was probably disturbed a year ago during work on the Belfast Sewers Project. |
| It will take a week to repair the road, and talks about minimising traffic disruption have been taking place. | It will take a week to repair the road, and talks about minimising traffic disruption have been taking place. |
| The damage to the road was discovered early on Saturday. | The damage to the road was discovered early on Saturday. |
| The tarmac mostly stayed intact, but a 15 square metre hole emerged underneath the road. | The tarmac mostly stayed intact, but a 15 square metre hole emerged underneath the road. |
| ALTERNATIVE TRAFFIC ROUTES Ormeau Avenue and Bedford StreetEast Bridge Street, Albert Bridge, Short Strand and Bridge End Hamilton Street, Franklin Street and Bedford Street | ALTERNATIVE TRAFFIC ROUTES Ormeau Avenue and Bedford StreetEast Bridge Street, Albert Bridge, Short Strand and Bridge End Hamilton Street, Franklin Street and Bedford Street |
| Mr Gowdy said the air pocket was an "exceptional event" caused by Belfast's "unique clay geology". | Mr Gowdy said the air pocket was an "exceptional event" caused by Belfast's "unique clay geology". |
| The new storm-water tunnel built as part of the Belfast Sewers Project lies 15 metres beneath the surface and was not damaged. | The new storm-water tunnel built as part of the Belfast Sewers Project lies 15 metres beneath the surface and was not damaged. |
| The project remains on course to begin operating before the end of the year, said Mr Gowdy. | |
| No infrastructure cabling was damaged as the road buckled. | No infrastructure cabling was damaged as the road buckled. |
| Roads Service spokesman Colin Brown said on Saturday that the city is built upon a deposit of soft clay, silt and mud known as "Belfast Sleech". | Roads Service spokesman Colin Brown said on Saturday that 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." |