Hundreds of properties have been left without water and a main road is closed completely after a major water main burst in Ashton Gate today (October 13). Thousands of gallons of water burst out of the hillside of the northern section of Greyville Smyth Park, near the exit slip road off the A3029 Brunel Way, at around 1pm.
It caused the water pressure for much of Southville, Ashton and Bedminster to drop significantly. Many properties from Winterstoke Road to North Street were consequently left without water.
Meanwhile, leaders at Ashton Gate Primary School made the decision to send pupils home at 2pm. The school, in North Street, emailed parents to collect their children early as its water supply had stopped.
READ MORE: Three arrested on suspicion of murder following death of man in South Bristol
After the main burst, water gushed down onto the A370 Jessop Underpass, engulfing vehicles attempting to drive up the road. One driver was forced to abandon their car in the middle of the flood.
The main A370 at the westbound end of Coronation Road, in Ashton Gate, was completely closed. It caused gridlock traffic in surrounding roads, including North Street, Winterstoke Road and around the Bedminster Bridge Roundabout.
The road closure also brought congestion to most of the roads around the western side of Bristol city centre. This included Hotwell Road, over Brunel Way, on North Street and Winterstoke Road, as well as far away as Redcliffe and Temple Meads.
Fire appliances from across Bristol and North Somerset attended the scene and initially set up a berm to prevent the water overtopping onto Brunel Way. That directed all of the flow down into the Jessop Underpass and onto Greville Smyth Park, in Ashton Gate.
The water then flowed into the main section of the park, creating a new lake which covered the northern third of the park.
Bristol Water has since confirmed it was a major incident and that the network's biggest water main in the area had burst. Crews are expected to be working into the evening as they fix the burst main and make the area safe.
A Bristol Water spokesperson said: “This is a major incident and it is confirmed as a burst water main. There are multiple properties without water and it will be a while yet before it is sorted.”
To follow the latest updates on the incident, follow our live blog here.
Read next:
Pedestrian, 80s, with 'potentially life-changing' injuries after Cleeve Hill crash
Fears raised that Bristol is 'becoming like London' as Clean Air Zone due to start
Kingswood murder trial LIVE: Day four of Abigail White trial after Bradley Lewis stabbing
Plans approved for 140 homes on old Bristol council depot with access issues
