A broken water main sent brown water rushing down Vivian Street, part of State Highway 1, in central Wellington on Thursday afternoon.
The flooding forced the closure of the right-hand lane between Taranaki and Tory Streets, causing delays on the busy route to the airport and eastern suburbs.
The pavement cracked and the road surface buckled under the force of the water, with traffic reduced to a single lane. Wellington Water reported that the burst main in the suburb of Te Aro was being repaired, and water services would be shut off for at least five hours.
By 3 p.m., workers had isolated the affected pipe and were continuing repairs. Some businesses in the area were disrupted, with workers sent home early as the water supply was temporarily cut. One local joked about the city’s cycle lanes, saying it seemed like the council was building a “kayak lane” instead.
Council contractors used jackhammers and other tools to drain the water, with much of the flooding cleared by 4 p.m. Drivers were still advised to expect some delays as the repairs continued.
