3 Jul 2019

Burst water main floods busy intersection, streets

4:12 pm on 3 July 2019

A burst water main sent water flooding a busy Christchurch intersection and nearby streets today.

A car travels through floodwater on Innes Rd, Christchurch after a blown watermain.

A car travels through floodwater on Innes Rd, Christchurch after a blown water main. Photo: Anan Zaki / RNZ

The intersection of Cranford Street and Innes Road, a main thoroughfare into the city, was covered in flood water this morning but traffic was able to continuing moving through the area.

Christchurch City Council manager of reticulation and maintenance Tim Drennan said City Care was on site and working as quickly as possible to repair the break.

Nicki Jacobs from Knowles Street, one block back from Innes Road, said she arrived home at around 11am to find her street flooded.

The water was covering parts of Rutland and Cranford streets and Innes Road, she said.

"It was on the road and up to the footpath, and came up as far as our driveway when cars came rushing past splashing water two metres in the air. It's left a lot of mud on our driveway and we're just cleaning up the bark now from the council gardens," Ms Jacobs said.

Christchurch City Council said the water main had now been shut off, and contractors are clearing blocked stormwater sumps before starting the repair of the main.