The Sunbury Cross Subway has been closed to pedestrians as result of damage caused by a vehicle collision late last week. An uninsured and unroadworthy (no MOT) skip lorry suffered brake failure and went across the roundabout dramatically damaging the control boxes, ripping out the electricity supply and telemetry so essential to the operation of the subway pumps. It was fortunate that there were no personal injuries as the control box ended up down in the subway.
The subway is below ground water level and, to facilitate pedestrian passage, the pumps should work continuously. Pump Services were immediately called out but cannot repair the extensive damage for another 10 days as the parts are not immediately available. An attempt was made over the weekend to use a pump truck, under a lane closure on the roundabout, but the knee-height level of water together with the rainfall meant that this had to be stopped. The subway is therefore not currently safe for pedestrian use.
