- Jun 3, 2017
- 6 min read

The Formby Bypass remains closed after the water burst

A burst water main on the Formby Bypass on 31st May which has now been fixed by United Utilities still leaves the Formby bypass closed on the northbound carraigeway.

The burst left most of the homes in Formby without water for several hours from 5:30am until around 10:30am on 31st May. Local shops were rationing bottles of water for people.

On 1st June, United Utilities said: "Repairs to the burst water main on the Formby By Pass have now been completed however, traffic management will remain in place until the road has been put back to normal. This may have an impact on your travel plans."

We have been told that United Utiities are laying the concrete today, Saturday 3rd May and then tarmacking will be some time after that. There is still a lot of work to be done with all the verges and kerb stones torn up. Hopefully it will be back to normal with the road open by Monday morning 5th June.

The hole in the road on 2nd June - Photo by Mike Rigby

Traffic has been diverted through Formby causing much congestion especially at peak times. Congestion on the bypass has caused traffic jams right down to Brooms Cross Road.

The Formby bypass will remain closed on the A565 Northbound - heading towards Southport between B5195 Altcar Road and Moss Side.

United Utilities said: "The water supply should now be back to normal pressure. However, because there’s been some disturbance to the pipes in the area, you may notice the water is a little cloudy or discoloured."

Video of the bypass on Saturday morning 3rd June

Saturday morning 3rd June

Saturday morning 3rd June

Saturday morning 3rd June

Saturday morning 3rd June

Saturday morning 3rd June

New pipe going in - Photo by Mike Rigby

A huge hole has been dug as seen in the photo above taken by Mike Rigby.

A spokesman from United Utilities said: "We require specialist parts to complete the repairs to the burst water main on the Formby By Pass near to the junction with Altcar Road. These parts should arrive tomorrow (Thursday 1st June) when our engineers will be back on site to complete the repairs. Traffic management will remain in place until repairs are complete which may have an impact on your travel plans. We're sorry for any inconvenience caused."

Some of the shops were actually rationing bottles of water this morning when the whole of Formby had no water at all.

Most of the water is now back on but with low pressure and some cloudy or discolouration.

The water mains burst on the Formby bypass on 31st May

Update @ 14:23

We require specialist parts to complete the repairs to the burst water main on the Formby By Pass near to the junction with Altcar Road. These parts should arrive tomorrow when our engineers will be back on site to complete the repairs. Traffic management will remain in place until repairs are complete which may have an impact on your travel plans.

Your water supply should now be back to normal pressure. However, because there’s been some disturbance to the pipes in your area, you may notice the water is a little cloudy or discoloured. You can check out our Discoloured Water page for more information.

We're sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Update @ 13:50

Due to the complex nature of the repairs, works will be ongoing throughout the course of the day.

Your water supply should now be back on but the pressure may be lower than normal whilst we continue with our repairs.

Because there’s been some disturbance to the pipes in your area you may notice the water is a little cloudy or discoloured, we know it doesn’t look nice but don’t worry, it’s unlikely to be harmful and will settle down again with time. You can help with this by letting your cold water tap run at a slight trickle until your water runs crystal clear again. You can check out our Discoloured Water page for more information.

We’re sorry for the trouble this may be causing you and we will get your taps flowing normally again as quickly as we can.

Update at 11:40am:

Our team of engineers are on site carrying out repairs to the burst water main on the Formby By Pass. Due to the complex nature of the repairs the work will be ongoing throughout the course of the day.

Your water supply should now be back on but you may find the pressure will be slightly lower than normal until our repairs are complete.

We're sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Update at 10:10am

"In order to help get some water flowing through your taps again our inspector has moved water from a different area into yours whilst we’re sorting out the leak. You may find that it doesn’t flow as much as the pressure will be lower, but we’re working as quickly as we can on our pipe, so we can get your taps flowing back to normal again."

"Because there’s been some disturbance to the pipes in your area you may notice the water is a little cloudy or discoloured, we know it doesn’t look nice but don’t worry, it’s unlikely to be harmful and will settle down again with time. You can help with this by letting your cold water tap run at a slight trickle until your water runs crystal clear again."

"We’re sorry if this has affected you getting on with your everyday jobs. You can check out our Discoloured Water page for more information."

Update at 8:30am, United Utilities said:

"Our team of engineers are on site but due to the complex nature of the repairs, work will be on-going throughout the course of the morning. We are sorry for the trouble this may be causing you and we will get your taps flowing normally again as quick as we can."

Here is a video taken this morning at peak hour of the burst on the bypass...

Original at 7:15am

Engineers have been drafted in with United Utilities pledging "we will get your taps flowing normally again as quickly as we can".

The full statement updated at 6.15am said: "A leak on the Formby Bypass affecting customers in L37 , has been spotted and reported to us. Our inspector is currently on-site and believes that this is the cause for some of you having no water or just a trickle."

"A team of engineers has been requested to attend and should be on site as soon as possible. We’re sorry for the trouble this may be causing you and we will get your taps flowing normally again as quickly as we can."

"You may have noticed that the water is coming out of your tap slower than usual or may have gone off altogether. We have one of our inspectors looking into this at the moment and as soon as we know what the cause of the problem is we’ll let you know."

"We’re sorry about this and will try and get your taps flowing normally as quickly as we can. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we know what’s causing the problem."

At 7.15am United Utilities added: "A team of engineers are on the way to the Formby Bypass to begin repairs to a large burst water pipe causing no waters in your area. They will be on site as soon as possible."

Original statement from United Utilities said:

Status: ActiveStart time: 5/31/2017 5:15:00 AM

Effect: No Water Supply/ Poor Pressure

ID: 330095780

Update @ 07:15 - A team of engineers are on the way to the Formby By Pass to begin repairs to a large burst water pipe causing no waters in your area. They will be on site as soon as possible.

Update @ 06.15 A leak on the Formby Bypass affecting customers in L37, has been spotted and reported to us. Our inspector is currently on-site and believes that this is the cause for some of you having no water or just a trickle.

A team of engineers has been requested to attend and should be on site as soon as possible. We’re sorry for the trouble this may be causing you and we will get your taps flowing normally again as quickly as we can.

You may have noticed that the water is coming out of your tap slower than usual or may have gone off altogether. We have one of our inspectors looking into this at the moment and as soon as we know what the cause of the problem is we’ll let you know.

We’re sorry about this and will try and get your taps flowing normally as quickly as we can. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we know what’s causing the problem.