The area is being redeveloped for residential useNews
Katie Oborn GAU Writer
13:41, 13 May 2025
Whitehouse Lane is at the centre of a new housing development, the road is currently closed to through-traffic as emergency repairs take place(Image: John Myers)
A Bristol road has been closed for emergency repairs with no through traffic permitted – access is only available to business owners. It comes after a “void was discovered underneath the centre of the road” on May 12.
The collapse of a section of a 150-year-old brick sewer was found to be the cause, leading to concerns about the potential of a sink hole. Wessex Water is now carrying out emergency works to the area on Whitehouse Lane, which sits in a regeneration area.
Whitehouse Lane is now closed to through-traffic as emergency repairs take place – and is expected to be shut until June 1. The road, which leads to and from Bedminster and Bristol, is at the centre of a huge development area.
Bristol City Council shared a statement on their website yesterday: “Whitehouse Lane, Southville, is set to close to through-traffic from 7am on Tuesday 13 May for emergency repairs to fill in a void under the road that appeared after a sewer collapsed.
“The stretch of road outside WR Bedford Stone Masonry’s premises on Whitehouse Lane will be fully blocked from 13 May to 1 June to make way for the road and sewer repairs.
“The void under the centre of the road and the collapsed sewer were found while carrying out the Whitehouse Lane highway infrastructure improvement works.
“While access will be maintained to businesses in the area through the use of on-site traffic marshals, the one-way system on Whitehouse Lane will be suspended.
“All parked cars along Whitehouse Lane need to be moved by 7am on Tuesday 13 May.”
The council reported that the sewer collapse was discovered by ETM contractors, who are working on Bristol City Council’s highways improvements in the area. They explained that the 150-year-old sewer was “constructed for the terrace houses which used to line each side of Whitehouse Lane”.
The old houses were demolished in the 1950s, but the same sewer now serves the businesses on Whitehouse Lane, Bristol City Council said. Regeneration is also underway nearby as the Bedminster Green development rolls out new housing.
The council’s statement online also explained that carrying out these works will ‘make sure that the sewer is repaired and that the road does not collapse in the future’.
It added: “If the void under the road and the collapsed sewer had not been found, a sink hole and a road collapse would have been likely to happen in the future and without warning.
“Bristol City Council and Wessex Water sincerely apologise for the disruption caused by the sewer repair, and aim to complete the works as quickly and safely as possible.”