Sydney crater causes traffic chaos

ArticleData Array ( [Article] => Array ( [article_id] => 1019209 [headline] => Sydney crater causes traffic chaos [abstract] => Emergency crews in Sydney are scrambling to repair a ruptured water and gas mains which has left a 25 metre crater on a busy road in the city's east. [keywords] => sydney, leak, burst pipe, crater, traffic [content] =>

Motorists in Sydney's east have been warned to expect major traffic disruptions this morning as emergency crews repair a ruptured water and gas mains which have left a 25 metre crater on one road.
   
The water main ruptured at about 8pm (AEST) on Thursday night, leaving the massive crater at the intersection of Victoria and Bellevue roads, in the exclusive suburb of Bellevue Hill.

"The ruptured main has left a 25-metre crater affecting the footpath and roadway on Victoria Road and also badly damaged a gas supply line," police said in a statement.

"The torrent of water brought down a power pole and swept up to two motor vehicles into nearby Cooper Park, where the water also caused a landslip."
   
Police said Victoria Rd would be closed indefinitely between Bellevue and Birriga roads, while Bellevue Rd would be closed between Buller St and Victoria Rd.

"Police are expecting significant disruptions to traffic in the area and motorists are being encouraged to find alternative routes," police said.
   
When the water main burst on Thursday night, police had to warn residents to stay indoors because of the gas leak.

However, the flow of gas was stopped at 4am on Friday, allowing repair work on the water main to commence.

"There have been no reports of any injuries as a result of the incident and no evacuations were necessary," police said.
 

[start_date] => 29 May 2009 | 08:00:30 AM [comments_allowed] => 1 [source] => AAP [commentCount] => 0 [video] => [image] => Array ( [caption] => An aerial view of the crater that has caused chaos in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. [useRegularImage] => 1 [media_library_id] => 77111 [site_id] => 1 [media_library_group_id] => 0 [media_usage_id] => 0 [filename] => site_1_rand_1777791435_sydney_crater_2905_b.jpg [title] => Sydney_Crater_2905_B_1777791435 [description] => file:site_1_rand_1777791435_sydney_crater_2905_b.jpg [type] => [height] => 338 [width] => 450 [source] => [video_hi] => [video_lo] => [section] => [display_order] => 0 [create_date] => 2009-05-29 11:34:49 [active] => 1 [media_usage] => Article Large [usageWidth] => 300 [usageHeight] => 225 ) [imagePath] => http://media.sbs.com.au/news/upload_media/ [audio] => [reporter] => [relatedLinks] => Array ( ) [relatedArticles] => [comments] => Array ( ) ) [winston] => test )