Road staying closed into spring after burst main

Various cracks run down the middle of a road as fencing and barriers blocks the road.Image source, Guernsey Water
Image caption,

The upgrade work is not expected to be completed until at least the spring

  • Published

A road in Guernsey is to remain closed into next year after a burst water main.

Guernsey Water said Rue Marquand in St Andrew had been shut since the start of December and would remain closed into the spring.

The firm said this would safeguard supplies and allow the water main to be upgraded.

The upgrade work is due to take place once the refurbishment of St Saviour's water treatment works has been completed, which is due to be in early 2025.

Another burst 'problematic'

Jon Holt, operations manager at Guernsey Water, said: "Regrettably, we are unable to start works to replace the main in Rue Marquand until works at St Saviour's are complete, our priority is to ensure security of water supply.

"This main is a major water transfer route, feeding our treated water storage facility in Forest Road and customers in the southern parishes.

"Our teams have already carried out a temporary repair of a 15m section of the pipe.

"Unfortunately, with an additional 65m of road damaged by the burst, temporarily resurfacing the road would put additional strain on the pipework."

He warned this could lead to another burst, which "would prove problematic" while the St Saviour's works remained offline.

The company said the existing main was laid in the 1970s and would be upgraded from 300mm to 450mm (12in to 18in).

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