A sinkhole has closed part of one of Bromley’s main roads after a water main burst underneath it, forcing buses off their normal routes and leaving passengers to find another way through the area.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed the sinkhole appeared on Mason’s Hill, Bromley, because of a burst water main, with diversions in place while the damage is dealt with.
The TfL alert said: “Masons Hill, Bromley: Routes 61, 261, 320, 358 are on diversion both ways due to a sinkhole.”
Buses affected include routes 61, 208, 261, 320, 336 and 358 in both directions, and TfL buses are not serving stops between Wendover Road and Bromley Common / The Crown in either direction.
The closure affects a busy stretch carrying several bus services into Bromley, so passengers travelling through the area face longer journeys and missed stops until the road is declared safe again.
Sinkholes linked to burst mains happen when water escaping from a damaged pipe washes away the material supporting the road surface, leaving a void underneath that eventually collapses. Repairs normally mean isolating the damaged main, digging down to the broken section, fixing or replacing the pipe, and then refilling and resurfacing the road — a job whose length depends on the size of the break and the state of the ground beneath.
No reopening time has been given for Mason’s Hill, and passengers are advised to check their route before travelling while the diversions remain in place.
The Bromley closure comes days after a burst main on Beulah Hill in Upper Norwood flooded the road and left homes without water, while Thames Water also carried out repairs in Dulwich earlier this month.
