AN investigation into a sinkhole that opened up on a Southampton street is continuing following concerns that the road was moving when vehicles drove over it.
Kent Road is currently closed to vehicles for urgent works.
A cordon has been set up around a hole in the road, with signs either side indicating to vehicles that the road is closed.
It is not yet known when the road will reopen but in a statement by Southampton City Council, a spokesperson said its highways partner, Belfour Beatty is carrying out works.
It added: “As part of this, we would like to inform you that for safety reasons we have closed a section of Kent Road between the junctions of Priory Road and St Denys Road (A3035) as we are undertaking subsidence investigations.
“Residents' access is being maintained but a diversion is in place for all through traffic. We will provide further updates as our investigations progress.”
The investigation comes after ward councillor for the area, Cllr John Savage was alerted to problems with the road by a resident.
He said: “On the 3rd of May I contacted the council because a local resident had told me he’d actually seen physical signs of movement in the road when cars were passing over.
“It was a bit worrying, so I contacted one of our senior engineers at the council.
“The feeling is that if it suddenly dropped when a vehicle was going over it then somebody could go through the windscreen of their car.”
READ MORE: Kent Road, Southampton closed as another sinkhole opens up
Concerns had previously been raised about large HGVs driving along the road, causing damage to cars and wearing an already old road down further.
Cllr Savage said the road was not built for this kind of traffic and has been in need of work for some time.
“We’ve had endless conversations about the HGVs and all kinds of trouble that goes down that road because it is an old road that wasn’t designed for the kind of traffic it conveys at the moment.
“I’m pleased there was a fairly brisk response.
“You only need for it to just drop into a small trench and you’re going to have a very serious accident.”
He added there is currently no weight restriction along Kent Road and he wants to see the council limit HGV operations.
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