Overview
- Milton Road is closed in both directions between the Elizabeth Way roundabout and Hurst Park Avenue while highways staff, police and partner agencies secure the site and manage traffic.
- On-site inspections have found the cavity extends under surrounding asphalt and above multiple buried utilities, so officials say the hole cannot be simply filled and repairs will require detailed engineering work.
- Police were deployed to direct traffic and the council has urged drivers to avoid the area as crews assess safety and plan a repair that has no confirmed reopening date.
- Local councillors have publicly questioned whether recent utility work could be linked to the collapse and have said taxpayers should not automatically shoulder repair costs if a utility operator is responsible.
- The incident has renewed scrutiny of the recent £24 million Milton Road redesign and its CYCLOPS junction, with residents and politicians raising concerns about the scheme’s construction and traffic effects.