Eastern Road, Portsmouth: major re-lining of underground pipe set to begin

The re-lining of a 300-metre-long sewer which runs along an arterial route through Portsmouth is scheduled to start at 08:00hrs on Saturday 16 March.

The work, which should be completed by Saturday 23 March, is part of a £1 million solution to a string of disruptive bursts. 

The southbound lane of the road will be closed throughout this period.

This work is phase two of the project and marks the final re-lining of the underground sewer.

This re-lining approach should stop recurring issues with the pipe, which has previously led to temporary road closures and traffic lights.

Re-lining requires a shorter timeframe than a normal repair, requiring less digging and posing less possible disruptive to commuters and the local community.

Lining material is fed through isolated holes in the stretch of underground pipe, heated and then results in the structure being sealed.

Our teams will be working 24/7 throughout the day and night, with traffic management in place so the work can be carried out safely.  

We are working closely with the Highways Authority, Portsmouth City Council, and their partner  Colas, to minimise the impact on road users as much as possible. 

Alex Saunders, Southern Water’s Head of Wastewater Networks, said: “We apologise for any the disruption this will cause residents, businesses and commuters – but are taking this action now to avoid more challenging times in the future. We will continue to update our website with any further information.”