Crews are working overnight in central Wellington to try to fix a breach in a stormwater pipe which caused a sinkhole on a busy arterial road.
A sinkhole has opened up in central Wellington, outside the TSB arena. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
The sinkhole outside the TSB arena is believed to have opened up last night.
"Probably the reason we've had this fracture and this sinkhole is because of the seawater" - Richard Maclean
Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard Maclean told Karyn Hay on Lately that they should know by midnight whether it's possible to fix the pipe on Jervois Quay, and backfill the hole in time for the morning rush hour.
Earlier today, motorists were being warned to expect significant delays in the area tomorrow during rush hour as well, as Jervois Quay would still be down to one southbound lane in the vicinity of Queens Wharf and the Hunter Street intersection.
Maclean said that they think the sinkhole was caused by seawater undermining the stormwater pipe.
"The pipe is pretty much below the level of high tide and so seawater has probably been going into this pipe over many years and it's gone into a fracture and it's basically eroded a big sinkhole around it."
He said the workers have to put a temporary cap on the broken pipe and then backfill the hole with gravel and dirt and then put a temporary road surface over it.
He said if the workers are able to do that very quickly then there will be three lanes open in the morning which will avert problems for commuters.
It comes after two pipe bursts last week caused sewage and drinking water to pour out across the city.
A sinkhole has opened up in central Wellington, outside the TSB arena. Photo: Supplied / Wellington City Council