A major road through Chislehurst has been blocked after a water main burst near a school, causing disruption for drivers and bus passengers this afternoon.
Perry Street — part of the A222 — is shut following the burst outside Beaverwood School, with a Superloop bus service diverted around the closure while the incident is dealt with.
A live blog tracking the incident began at around 1.37pm on Tuesday, September 29, opening with a warning to readers: “A burst water main is blocking a major road outside a school.” Drivers are being told the road is blocked at the school and to follow for live updates as the situation develops.
What we know so far
The burst water main is on Perry Street, the A222, at Beaverwood School in Chislehurst, in the London Borough of Bromley. The road is blocked in the area while water escapes from the damaged main.
A Superloop bus that would normally run along the route is being diverted, meaning passengers in the area face delays and altered stopping arrangements. No reopening time has been given, and updates are expected to follow as crews assess the damage.
What drivers and commuters should do
Anyone travelling through Chislehurst this afternoon is advised to avoid Perry Street and the A222 entirely and to allow plenty of extra time for their journey. With one of the area’s main routes shut, surrounding roads are likely to see heavier traffic than usual as drivers seek alternative ways through.
Bus passengers — including those who rely on Superloop services in Bromley — should check live arrivals before setting out, as diversions can change stopping patterns at short notice. If your usual stop is on or near Perry Street, be prepared to walk to an alternative stop.
Parents heading to Beaverwood School for pick-up should also factor in the closure, and keep an eye on any messages from the school about access arrangements.
Drivers are reminded never to attempt to drive through floodwater. Even a few inches of fast-flowing water can be enough to stall a car or sweep it off the road, and water covering the carriageway can conceal damaged surfaces or open manholes. If you come across flooding, turn around and find another route — and report it to the local water company or the council so crews can attend.
Why burst water mains can shut roads for hours
It may look like just a leak, but a burst water main is one of the more disruptive things that can happen to a road — and closures often last far longer than drivers expect.
Water mains carry huge volumes of water under high pressure. When a pipe fails, that water has to go somewhere, and it frequently washes away the material beneath the road surface. That can leave dangerous voids under the carriageway, and in the worst cases the road itself can collapse, creating a sinkhole. Until engineers are sure the surface is safe, the road has to stay closed.
Fixing the problem is a multi-stage job. The water company must first isolate the damaged section of pipe, which can itself take time on a large network. Crews then have to excavate the road to reach the main, repair or replace the broken section, backfill the hole and make sure the carriageway is safe before it can reopen. If the flooding is extensive, the road may also need to be inspected for longer-term damage.
It is the latest bout of road misery for south-east London, where drivers have already faced months of disruption around major repair works — and it comes as passengers continue to call for more Superloop links across the region.
Developing story
This is a developing story — check back for updates.
