Burst Brisbane CBD water main expected to cause commuter chaos

A water main has burst in Brisbane’s CBD, forcing one of the city’s main streets to close ahead of peak hour sparking further delays on major arterials in and out of the city.

Burst Water Main on Adelaide St the city, near King George Square toward George St, on Monday 11th March 2024- Photo Steve Pohlner

A water main has burst in Brisbane’s CBD, forcing one of the city’s main streets to close ahead of peak hour.

The water main burst just before 2.30pm on Monday on Adelaide St between George St and Edward St.

The section of road has been taped off.

As of 4.30pm, Adelaide St remains closed with police directing traffic to Ann St.

It’s sparked delays on the Pacific Motorway and Coronation Drive which are already at a crawl.

Delays are expected to continue for the coming hour.

Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner took to social media to alert CBD workers of the water main.

“Adelaide St has been closed between George and Edward streets in the CBD due to a burst water main,” he said on his Instagram page,” the Lord Mayor wrote.

“Peak hour traffic will be impacted. Please avoid the area.”

Police traffic diversions are currently in place and are expected to be so for the next few hours.

QPS have advised commuters to avoid the area.

A spokeswoman for Urban Utilities said investigations are underway into the cause of the burst water pipe.

“Our crews are repairing a burst water pipe,” she said.

“The burst was reported to us around 2:15pm on Monday and we sent a crew

immediately.”

A spokeswoman said the “complex job and repairs are expected to continue throughout this afternoon.”

“Adelaide Street is closed between Edward and George Streets, and our crews will work to

reopen one northbound lane as soon as they can,” she said.

“We’re still investigating the cause.”

This comes as business owners and residents were impacted by a burst water main in Brisbane’s CBD on January 13, forcing some streets and businesses to temporarily close.

A spokeswoman said Urban Utilities is investigating the cause of the most recent burst and confirmed, “it isn’t believed to be connected to January’s burst”.