Cleanup job after water pipe bursts

Contractors prepare to work on a water main that burst in Princes St about 6am yesterday, causing gravel to be strewn down the road and into Dowling St and flooding the entrance and reception area of the Scenic Hotel Dunedin City.

Dunedin City Council Three Waters network operations manager Neva Vaitupu said contractors isolated the damaged section in about 20 minutes.

Water supply to surrounding businesses was available for the rest of the day.

"We’re not yet sure of the cause of this morning’s failure, but the pipe itself is a 300mm cast iron pipe dating back to 1939," Mr Vaitupu said.

Temporary traffic management was in place yesterday morning when work to excavate and replace the damaged pipe began.

The work was expected to be complete last night.