Brynmill sinkhole finally filled – again – as road reopens this afternoon

Swansea Council confirmed at 3.20pm today (Friday 19 December) that the road is back open following emergency works.

The authority said crews had been “putting the finishing touches” to the repair earlier in the day, after investigations revealed the latest collapse was linked to the earlier fault that has caused repeated disruption in the area.

Final touches underway as crews compact fresh asphalt during Brynmill sinkhole repairs on Brynymor Road.
(Image: Swansea Council)Fresh asphalt marks the latest repair to the Brynmill sinkhole, with cones and caution tape still in place.
(Image: Swansea Council)

A spokesperson said the council’s Highways Team will now consider carrying out a geotechnical survey to determine whether further work is needed along the route to prevent more sinkholes from forming.

The reopening comes after a string of closures, diversions and emergency digs that have turned the Brynmill sinkhole into one of Swansea’s most persistent infrastructure sagas.

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Brynmill sinkhole saga rumbles on — crews dig deep after second collapse

This morning we revealed how the street had collapsed again, forcing a fresh closure between Westbury Street and Eaton Crescent. Heavy machinery and barriers are now back in place as engineers work to stabilise the site.

From November shock to December drama

The saga began on 22 November, when a sudden collapse forced the closure of Brynymor Road. What at first looked like a small hole quickly grew into a major headache, with councillors warning the damage was larger than expected.

Investigations followed, with engineers probing whether old mine workings beneath the Crescent were to blame. For weeks, the mystery deepened as crews dug into the road surface, trying to uncover the cause.

By mid‑December, the answer finally came: the collapse was traced back to an old manhole chamber hidden beneath the tarmac. With the mystery solved, hopes rose that the road could reopen before Christmas.

On 17 December, councillors gathered for a photo call to mark the reopening, praising the swift repair and celebrating the return of traffic to one of Brynmill’s busiest streets.

Collapse number two

But the celebrations didn’t last long. Within hours, a second sinkhole appeared nearby, plunging the street back into disruption and forcing crews to return with diggers and trucks.

A Swansea Council spokesperson said:

“Our highways maintenance teams are at the site of a second sinkhole on Brynymor Road. We are doing all we can to repair as quickly as possible and reopen the road.”

They added:

“The road is closed between Westbury Street and Eaton Crescent. Brynymor Road between King Edward Road and St Helens Road remains open to motorists who are visiting local businesses in the area. Apologies for any inconvenience this is causing.”

Images from the scene

Photos taken Thursday show crews in high‑vis jackets operating diggers and trucks, excavating the collapsed section and cordoning off the street with barriers. The fresh hole exposes layers of asphalt and soil, as engineers work to stabilise the site.

Digging deep: excavator and highways team tackle the collapsed section of Brynymor Road.
(Image: Swansea Council)Fresh collapse: excavator lifts debris from the newly formed Brynymor Road sinkhole.
(Image: Swansea Council)Excavation in progress: crews dig into the collapsed section of Brynymor Road.
(Image: Swansea Council)Emergency response: highways team works to stabilise Brynymor Road after second sinkhole
(Image: Swansea Council) #Brynmill #BrynymorCrescent #BrynymorRoad #EatonCrescent #KingEdwardRoad #Sinkhole #StHelensRoad #SwanseaCouncil #Uplands #WestburyStreet

Brynymor Road sinkhole shuts street again just hours after councillors’ photo‑op

A new hole has appeared on Brynymor Road, close to the junction with Westbury Street and King Edward Road, just inches from the section that was patched earlier this month. The collapse has reignited safety fears and left residents asking how long the street can stay open before the ground gives way again.

From ribbon‑cutting smiles to flashing blue lights

On Tuesday, councillors marked the reopening with photo‑ops at the repaired site. By Wednesday, cones and flashing police lights were back, sealing off the street as crews scrambled to respond to the fresh failure.

Cllr Peter May gives the thumbs up on Brynymor Road after sinkhole repairs reopened the busy Uplands route.Council cabinet member Andrew Stevens poses beside the freshly repaired section of Brynymor Road, following emergency works to fill a sinkhole that forced the street’s closure earlier this month.
(Image: Swansea Council)

Local resident George Hawkins snapped the scene and posted it to Facebook with a single emoji caption: 💀 — a blunt verdict on the repair job.

Closed earlier this month, closed again now

The road was first shut earlier this month when a large sinkhole appeared, sparking emergency works. After days of disruption, the street was reopened — only for a second collapse to follow within hours, forcing another closure and raising questions about whether deeper structural issues are being missed.

Council pressed for answers

Swansea Council has been approached for comment on the recurrence and whether further investigations will now be carried out. For now, residents are left wondering if the authority is really looking into it.

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Brynymor Road reopens after sinkhole drama

Road back in action

The busy route was shut after a gaping hole appeared near Brynymor Crescent, sparking fears of underground mine workings and leaving businesses counting the cost of lost footfall.

Investigations have now confirmed the fault was caused by an old manhole collapsing beneath the surface. Swansea Council’s highways maintenance teams have carried out repairs, allowing traffic to return just in time for the Christmas rush.

Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “The sinkhole resulted in the council needing to implement a full road closure while we investigated the causes. Our highways maintenance teams have done an excellent job, repairing the road as quickly as they have. This should be great news for local businesses, residents and motorists who regularly use this route.”

Councillors welcome swift action

Uplands Party councillors praised the council’s response but acknowledged the disruption.

Cllr Peter May said: “I would like to thank the council teams for their prompt investigation work and repair on this. When a sinkhole opens, there are a lot of unknowns to examine before any repair can be carried out. It has certainly had an impact on the local area.”

Cllr Stuart Rice added: “We have been working with local traders on Brynymor Road to try and mitigate the effect that the sinkhole had on footfall. Hopefully it will now be business as usual again for them in the crucial run up to Christmas.”

From mystery to repair

The sinkhole saga gripped the Uplands for weeks, with speculation about possible mine links and councillors warning the collapse was larger than first thought. Swansea Bay News reported extensively on the closure, from the initial shock to the investigation and the promise of repairs before Christmas.

Now, with the road back open, attention turns to recovery for local businesses and reassurance for residents who watched a key city route vanish beneath their feet.

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Sinkhole mystery solved: Brynymor Crescent collapse blamed on old manhole – road could reopen before Christmas

Contractors have now completed investigations and confirmed the cause of the collapse was an ageing underground structure that had gone unnoticed beneath the tarmac. Backfilling began yesterday, and resurfacing is due to start next week.

If the weather holds, the road could reopen before Christmas – though heavy rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday may cause delays.

The update marks a turning point in a saga that began in late November, when a sudden collapse forced the closure of Brynymor Crescent and sparked speculation about historic mine shafts beneath the area.

Earlier reports suggested the sinkhole was “larger than expected” and potentially linked to old workings — but the latest findings rule that out.

Cllr Peter May said:

“The team have established that the cause of collapse was an old manhole beneath the road surface. This has now been dealt with and contractors began backfilling yesterday, with resurfacing to begin next week.”

Pending no unforeseen issues, the road should be open by the end of next week — or earlier if possible.

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Council investigates possible mine link to Brynymor Crescent sinkhole

Correspondence shared by Uplands councillor Peter May reveals that mining records show a historic mine feature located approximately 100–150 metres north of the collapse site. The council is now contacting the Coal Authority for detailed plans and considering a full geotechnical survey to check for other voids in the area.

Void under road larger than first thought

The latest update follows a site meeting between council officers and Dŵr Cymru, where a void of at least 8 metres in length or depth was discovered beneath the road surface.

According to the council’s internal note, the void is not linked to a previous water leak but may have caused the leak that was repaired last week. The ground remains unstable, and Heras fencing has been installed to prevent access.

A camera survey is scheduled for tomorrow morning to assess the full extent of the damage.

Road closure and safety measures

Brynymor Crescent remains closed, and a full diversion route is being arranged. The void is located around 10 metres from the nearest properties, and while there is currently no immediate risk to residents, the council says it will know more once survey results are available.

Cllr May has been sharing updates via social media and said he would continue to keep residents informed as investigations progress.

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Brynymor Road sinkhole larger than expected, says councillor

The sinkhole that forced the closure of Brynymor Road in Swansea last week is “significantly larger than first anticipated,” according to Uplands councillor Peter May, who shared an update on social media after meeting with Welsh Water engineers.

Cllr May said the company had accepted liability for the collapse, which is believed to have been caused by a major leak just above the affected area. That leak was repaired last week, but engineers are still working to assess the full extent of the damage beneath the surface.

“The hole is significantly larger than first anticipated,” he wrote, “and when I left site they were still trying to find the extent of the void under the road.” Based on surface cracking, the damage could stretch around three metres wide, five to six metres long, and just over one metre deep.

Excavation underway at the Brynymor Road sinkhole site. Engineers are working to assess and repair the damage.

Welsh Water plans to excavate the area fully, backfill it with new material, and reinstate the carriageway. While repairs were initially hoped to be completed by Thursday evening, Cllr May said that timeline was “somewhat optimistic” and that a Friday reopening was more likely.

“There was a significant leak just above the sinkhole which was repaired last week,” he added. “Welsh Water agree that this has in all probability caused the collapse.”

Council investigation continues

Swansea Council last issued an update on 24 November, confirming that highways teams had begun investigating the cause of the sinkhole, which appeared at the junction of Brynymor Road and Westbury Street.

The council said the road would be reinstated once the investigation was complete and the area made safe. In the meantime, Brynymor Road remains closed to traffic between Westbury Street and Eaton Crescent. Westbury Street itself is open, but there is no access onto Brynymor Road from that junction. The section of Brynymor Road between St Helen’s Road and King Edward Road remains open to traffic.

#brynymorCrescent #brynymorRoad #eatonCrescent #kingEdwardRoad #roadClosure #sinkhole #stHelensRoad #swansea #swanseaCouncil #uplands #welshWater #westburyStreet