Diversions and partial road closures due to sinkhole. (39560479)

WORK to stabilise the property most affected by the Rouge Bouillon sinkhole is progressing, the government has confirmed, with scaffolding now in place and steel strapping installation set to begin on Monday.

Rouge Bouillon between Clarendon Road and Palmyra Road had to close after the appearance of the large hole – caused by a burst water main – on 18 December and has been closed since, leading to lengthy traffic jams in and around the town centre, as well as around the nearby schools.

The hole created a crack in the wall of a building on the corner of Clarendon Road and Rouge Bouillon, and the Infrastructure and Environment Department considered the building unsafe due to a risk of collapse. They said a “four-step plan” was in place to remedy the situation.

A steel strapping system will be installed to keep the building stable. Then an engineer will check the condition of the soil under the foundations.

Next, external structures such as boundary walls will be demolished. And finally the department will reassess the work and issue an update.

A spokesperson said: “We understand that the closure has significant impacts on daily travel and local businesses.

“The road will only reopen once the buildings are stabilised and all risks of structural collapse have been mitigated.”

A further updates is due to be provided by Friday.