Traffic chaos as burst water main forces M53 closure between Eastham and Ellesmere Port

Feb 18 2009 Heswall News

A BURST water main created a sheet of ice across the M53 last week, causing traffic chaos.

The motorway was closed for several hours on Thursday morning, leading to long tailbacks for drivers.

Police in Chester were called to the area between Eastham and Ellesmere Port at around 5.30am, where they found a burst pipe had created one foot of standing water which had frozen in sub-zero temperatures.

The Ellesmere Port Vauxhall car plant was left without water after the incident, which closed the M53 in both directions between junctions five and seven.

The southbound carriageway re-opened at 11am, but work continued until after midday to ensure the northbound route was made safe.

One commuter said: “My journey normally takes me fifteen minutes but it took me over an hour.

“We were all told to get off the motorway at junction six and the police had the area all coned off.

“We didn’t know what was happening.”

The leak took place at 4.12am on Thursday morning.

United Utilities say no other customers were affected.