Ely’s Market Street taxi rank will close for up to two months to make way for “essential” repair work to the city’s sewerage system.

The closure, which began on Monday, saw the taxi rank moved along Market Street to take up six bays outside Ely Museum and the City of Ely Council offices.

Work on the sewerage system is being carried out by Anglian Water and will see contractors dig down five metres of road to get at pipes.

Traffic and buses using Market Street are being diverted around the work, making use of the current taxi rank. Contractors could remain on site until May 1.

In a report to East Cambridgeshire District Council’s licensing committee, Stephen Carrington said: “The council was advised that a temporary traffic order made under a

traffic management order had been submitted to county highways indicating that works will commence on Market Street on March 23 until May 1 and if work is not completed within this time frame, an application for an extension can be made.

“The pavement, parking and disabled bays adjacent to the excavation will be closed for the duration of the works, therefore the current taxi rank will need to be suspended and a temporary taxi rank established whilst the work is being undertaken.”