It’s a case of third time lucky as a utility company prepares to embark on a six-week project to replace a troublesome water main buried under the A249.

South East Water’s pipeline has burst five times over the past few years causing flood damage to the road and leaving 83 homes and businesses in Stockbury and along the busy dual carriageway without water.

The £240,000 project will begin on the northbound carriageway tomorrow between the Hayes Lane and Steps Hill Road junction. One lane closure will be in place between 5am and 3.30pm daily for five weeks.

To reduce disruption through the evening peak there will be two narrow lanes to accommodate the traffic. Wide vehicles will need to straddle both lanes.

Two weeks of work will also take place on the southbound carriageway from February 2. One lane will be closed between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Outside of these times both lanes will be in use. It will then finish in Steps Hill Road a week later with a temporary road closure.

A speed restriction of 50mph will be enforced at all times.

Last year the water firm tried to replace the pipeline twice: once in January then again in September, however, unrelated traffic problems in the area meant work had to be stopped.

A South East Water spokesman said: “We have an obligation to ensure our water supply is reliable and replace pipelines which are failing which is why this work is so important.

“Following our previous attempts to install the pipeline we have re-looked at our plans to further reduce disruption to motorists.

“Lane closures and speed reductions will still be necessary at times to provide a safe working area for our contractor and to ensure that vehicles can pass at a safe distance.”

For more details visit southeastwater.co.uk/a249