Sinkhole repairs under way after major disruption

Repairs are under way on a huge sinkhole that caused a wave of disruption along a major commuter road.

Bury New Road in Prestwich, Bury - which links Prestwich to the M60 and Manchester City Centre - has been closed since Tuesday after the chasm opened up.

Residents have told how the closure prompted major delays and also affected local businesses.

Bury Council said the road should reopen late on Friday afternoon after contractors and staff from United Utilities moved in.

The authority said its investigation found there had been a crack in a sewer pipe which caused the foundations of the road to erode.

A spokesman said: "United Utilities has agreed to repair their sewer using an internal liner, which should be completed later this afternoon.

"This will allow us to reinstate the carriageway and fully reopen Bury New Road to traffic late tomorrow afternoon."

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: "I want to thank our hard-working and diligent engineers who have helped to get this main road re-opened so quickly."

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