Burst Pipe Triggers Large Sinkhole on Manchester Road

A major sinkhole has appeared on a busy Manchester road, forcing closures and causing significant disruption to traffic.

The hole, believed to have been caused by a burst water pipe, opened up on Briscoe Lane near its junction with Chelsea Road.

The affected section has been sealed off with barriers while engineers assess the damage and begin repair work. Images from the scene show a substantial crater in the road surface, with emergency crews and contractors in attendance and the area closed to vehicles.

Motorists are being urged to avoid Briscoe Lane and use alternative routes until the situation is resolved.

United Utilities confirmed its teams are on site dealing with the burst pipe.

A spokesperson said: “We are currently repairing a burst water main on Briscoe Lane. Some customers in the surrounding area may be experiencing low water pressure or a temporary loss of supply.

“We have deployed water tankers to help maintain supplies while repairs are carried out. Our crews are working as quickly as possible to resolve the issue and we apologise for the disruption caused.”

No timeframe has yet been confirmed for when the road will fully reopen.