Main city road sewer work to last until mid-July

The work, being carried out in three phases, has meant numerous closures on the major route into the city

Work to reline sewers on a main route into a city centre is set to take longer than expected.

Southern Water started the latest phase of work - which had been due to last about four weeks - along Portsmouth's A2030 Eastern Road on 12 May.

But the water firm said the project would now take until mid-July because elements were "proving more of a technical challenge than expected".

A lane is shut southbound near the Volkswagen showroom off Bilton Way.

Phase three of the works started on 12 May and was expected to last about four weeks

Southern Water said: "On complex engineering projects like this, our focus is always to complete the work right in the first instance, so that there is less need for disruption in the future - and reduce the risk of further bursts."

The sewer is being relined after numerous bursts and leaks.

The current work was brought forward after the sewer pipe burst again and flooded the road.

The water firm said it was being relined because it takes less time than a normal repair and needs less digging as the liner is fed through the underground pipe.

When finished, more than 1,000m (3,280ft) of sewer pipe would have been relined from Farlington roundabout to beyond Anchorage Road, the water firm said.