A sewer has burst on New Barn Road in East Cowes.
The incident, reported by utility company Southern Water, resulted in the closure of New Barn Road and Old Road. Repairs are currently being carried out and a diversion is in place.
The company stated that the pipe burst did not cause any environmental damage because the wastewater was discharged directly back into the sewer system.
Southern Water has reportedly put 30 tankers into operation to minimize pollution.
The vehicles will regulate the flow of wastewater between the pipe break site and the Springhill and Albany Road locations.
A Southern Water spokesman said: “We expect repair work to be completed within 48 hours once it begins and we apologise for any disruption this work and tanker movement may cause to homes and businesses in the area.”
East Cowes councillor and IW council leader Karl Love said the repair work would not be a “quick fix” and would likely take the rest of the week and possibly over the weekend.
He added that the road would need to be dug up and the sewer pipe replaced, and a safety fence would need to be erected across New Barn Road to mark a work zone.
The incident came amid a busy schedule of events at Osborne House this week, including the equestrian events All the Queen’s Horses and Punch and Judy.
English Heritage said a diversion had been put in place for the All the Queen’s Horses event car park and advised visitors to follow traffic signs.
Karl said: “This is one of the main sewer pipes that pumps sewage across the island to the treatment plant at Sundown and the pipe, like other pipes, has broken and needs to be replaced – this is no small job.”
“I will try to keep you updated and I am sorry that this is causing disruption because the plants have to be running 24 hours a day. Otherwise the alternative is to pump all the sewage into the Solent and we don’t want that.”
York Avenue is also currently closed for utility repairs and maintenance. Southern Water expects the work to be completed by Thursday evening.
