Dangerous sinkhole swallows road

Crews worked tirelessly to reinstate the road as quickly as possible. Photo / Seven News

A burst water main has opened up a huge sinkhole in the middle of a busy road in Melbourne, Australia.

The dangerous hole swallowed three lanes in a road in Caulfield and stopped traffic in both directions after it opened up at 2am yesterday (5am NZT), The Age reported.

The road remained closed for more than 16 hours while the main was repaired and the road reinstated.

A burst water main opened up a sinkhole in the middle of a busy Melbourne road. Photo / Seven News

An owner of a nearby cafe, Glovers Station, said the area was nearly deserted as a result of the hole.

"We're always so busy, so sometimes it's good to have a quiet day," said the cafe's owner Jimmy Marinis, in an interview with The Age.

The road was re-opened about 8.30pm (11.30pm NZT), the Age reported.

The collapsed road comes less than a week after a sinkhole swallowed a car, caravan and a camping ground near Queensland's Rainbow Beach.