Crews aiming to clear A421 flooding by the weekend
National highways regional director Martin Fellows tells us the scale of the operation is unprecedented - as they 72 million litres of floodwater
The A421, which has been closed for nearly two weeks due to severe flooding, is gradually being cleared.
Martin Fellows, Regional Director for National Highways in the East of England, provided an update on the situation, describing the efforts made to address the challenges posed by the significant water accumulation.
“The original flooding started a week last Sunday,” Mr Fellows said.
“We’ve removed somewhere in the region of 72 million litres of water since we started pumping, and at its height, there were approximately 60 million litres of water.”
The incident was triggered by a deluge of persistent rain in a short period.
The task of removing the water has been complicated by the location near Marston Moretaine, where care must be taken to avoid flooding nearby properties or land.
“We have worked with various organisations, including Central Bedfordshire Council, the Drainage Board, Fire and Rescue, and the Environment Agency, to ensure safe water removal,” Mr Fellows explained.
The operation involved laying nearly 4.5 kilometres of piping to transfer water to a balancing pond near Stewartby Lake.
In response to concerns about road conditions, Mr Fellows acknowledged the potential for damage. “There is damage to the road where we’ve removed water, and we are assessing whether resurfacing or more substantial repairs are needed. We are hopeful that we may open some lanes by the middle of next week.”
Addressing local frustrations about the road closure, Mr Fellows said, “We understand the impact on people’s daily lives and businesses, and we are working tirelessly to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.” He urged the public to respect the closed worksites, noting incidents where individuals had attempted to enter the area, leading to accidents and delays in repairs.
Mr Fellows also noted that while the A421 area is prone to flooding, the scale of this incident is unprecedented.
“This is a one-in-100-year event..."
"though such events are happening more frequently. We will review what measures can be taken to mitigate future risks without causing unintended consequences to surrounding areas.”
The operation continues 24/7, with a goal of removing the remaining water by the weekend and beginning road repairs.
It's reported the road could re-open by Wednesday (October 9th).