A burst water main on Portland Street has caused major disruption for commuters in Greater Manchester, with Piccadilly Bus Station closed for the rest of the day and multiple bus services diverted. Police and United Utilities attended the incident on Wednesday (October 28), which also led to a large police cordon in the city centre.
Streams of water ran down Portland Street, with a large puddle forming at the junction with Chorlton Street, forcing members of the public to jump over flood water. Repairs are currently being carried out on the main road.
Passengers affected by closures and diversions
Mohammed Ahmed told the Manchester Evening News his day off was "ruined" by the burst after his gym temporarily closed due to the incident. He had planned to work out at the Gym Group on Faulkner Street, near Portland Street, when he encountered a sign outside the entrance saying the facility was closed for a while.
"It's not ideal," he told the MEN. "The staff are doing the best they can to let people know. This city is so reliant on buses. Which is great, it's one of the best systems in the world, but when something like this happens it's chaos."
He added: "My mum was out today, she went to hospital and because of the changes she got lost."
Commuters left frustrated and stranded
A frustrated traveller said: "TfGM need to sort it out." Another commuter, who had finished work, found themselves needing to find another mode of transport home to Didsbury after the disruption. They told the M.E.N: "The only reason I'm getting the buses today is because the trams aren't working. So, now I actually don't know how I'm getting home. I'll probably have to get an Uber home or something like that."
While a student was understanding, she said: "It can't be helped. It's a bit annoying because we're in a bit of a rush. But there's nothing you can really do when something like that happens."
Official advice for travellers
Alison Chew, TfGM's Network Director for Bus, said: "Due to a burst water main on Portland Street, buses in Manchester city centre are currently being diverted. Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens bus station will be closed until further notice while utility companies carry out emergency repairs."
She added: "We've also got our teams across the city centre to support passengers to make their journeys. Anyone planning to travel in or out of the city centre is advised to check the TfGM website or Bee Network app for the latest updates, including a list of affected services."
