What every motorist wants on a Friday afternoon just before knock-off is a burst water main causing flash flooding across a major road.
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Rather than an afternoon going swimmingly, some motorists had to swim to vacate their cars after a water main break just before 3.30pm on Five Islands Road at Cringila.
Some commercial businesses were left with water damage.
Wollongong Police District duty officer Acting Inspector Dave Parker said several vehicles were inundated with water with their drivers and passengers stranded inside.
Emergency services were forced to close the road between Lake Avenue and Wattle Street, causing heavy traffic delays in the area.
Many motorists were reporting to the Mercury they had been stuck on Five Islands Road for an hour or more as Lake Illawarra Police diverted moving traffic elsewhere.
“We [were] in the middle of it, trying to get to Ed Sheeran [concert]. Very frustrating,” said Kristy Blackburn.
Sydney Water technicians finally had the water source turned off at 4.45pm. A spokesman said the first priority was to make the area safe before crews could carry out the required work to shut the main down and reopen the road.
By 5pm two eastbound lanes were reopened though many motorists were still stuck in gridlock.