Update: A421 in Bedfordshire remains closed in both directions due to significant flooding
This page was first published on the 25 Sept, but will be updated with the latest information as our response to the incident continues. Latest update: Fri 4 Oct, 17.00.
Friday 4 Oct:
National Highways has confirmed that parts of a flooded section of the A421 in Bedfordshire will need to be re-laid after initial tests showed the safety of the road had been compromised following record rainfall.
Despite pumping away more than 70 million litres of floodwater – the equivalent needed to fill 28 Olympic-sized swimming pools – there is remaining water to remove following significant and persistent rainfall during the last two weeks.
Martin Fellows, Regional Director for National Highways in the East of England, said:
“We have carried out early testing so we can have all the arrangements in place to undertake any work as soon as the remaining floodwater has been removed. We expect that to be early next week and then we will be working around the clock to carry out repairs and get the road reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.
“It may be possible to open some elements of the road towards the end of next week – such as one lane in each direction – but we will only do that when we are certain it’s safe.
“I understand the disruption this has caused to local people and those that rely on this section of road, and I would like to extend my appreciation for their continued patience and support. I’d also like to thank our local partners in Bedfordshire for their ongoing help and collaboration.
“What we have encountered here has been truly unprecedented in terms of the record rainfall over a sustained period and its impact has been like nothing I have seen in my working life.
“The progress we have made is very clear as we have removed more than 300 metres of floodwater – which is more than three times the length of the pitch at Wembley – But given the repairs that will be necessary to the road surface, I expect our work here will continue for further week.”
Specialist high volume pumps have been working at the site since the end of last week and around 11 million litres of floodwater is now being removed each day.
National Highways continues to work with partners in the Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum (BLRF), which includes the Environment Agency, to ensure that floodwater is dispersed in a responsible manner that does not add to the already saturated ground.
After a month of rainfall fell in under 48 hours, the A421 was closed in both directions between the A6 at Bedford - M1 junction 13, near Brogborough/Marston Moretaine on Sunday 22 Sept.
The flooding of a local pumping station significantly contributed to the issue.
Efforts to clear the floodwater have been ongoing since with a fleet of 25 tankers working around the clock to remove water from the carriageway. The last of three vehicles – which had been abandoned as the floodwaters rose – have now been recovered.
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Mon 30 Sept:
Record rainfall across Bedfordshire continues to provide challenging conditions as National Highways ongoing work has seen more than 24 million litres of water removed from a flooded section A421, near Marston Moretaine.
That amount is similar to the water you would find in 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Specialist high volume pumps have been working at the site since the end of last week and that has seen the amount of water removed from the carriageway double from an average of 2 million litres per day last week to a current rate of around 5 million litres.
Following record rainfall during September, the A421 was closed in both directions between A6 at Bedford - M1 junction 13 near Brogborough/Marston Moretaine on Sunday 22 September.
Martin Fellows, Regional Director for National Highways in the East of England, said:
“We are taking every possible measure we can to tackle this unprecedented situation. That includes sourcing the most effective and advanced pumping equipment we can.
“The record rainfall this part of the country is continuing to experience is making a what is a difficult situation extremely challenging but let me reassure people our work will continue as all our effort and resources are focused on resolving this and getting the road open as soon as it is safe to do so.
“The progress we have made over the last week is very clear but the extent of the rainfall and runoff from the surrounding area is making this a real challenge. We will continue to do all we can but trying to put a timeline to this – when we do not yet know the condition of the road under the floodwater – is very difficult and I expect our work here will continue for the rest of this week as a minimum.
“As we are talking about removing very significant volumes of water and dispersing it in a responsible manner that does not add to the already saturated ground conditions, I think it’s important that people understand that we work very closely with our partners in the Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum (BLRF) to ensure our work in this area continues to be safe and appropriate.”
National Highways is working in close partnership with other agencies through the Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum (BLRF). The BLRF partners including local authorities, police, fire and rescue, the Bedfordshire Local Emergency Volunteers Executive Committee (BLEVEC), which works in conjunction with statutory agencies and emergency services, and the Environment Agency are all working together to respond to the flooding affecting the county.
Relevant partner organisations working together to agree the overall response to flooding across the county, means water levels are continually monitored to ensure that the water being pumped form the A421 is not being distributed to catchment areas that are already overwhelmed.
Martin Fellows also made an appeal to local people to stay away from the area, adding: “I understand that people are curious and want to visit the scene, but I would kindly request that members of the public continue to support us by staying away from the area so our work to tackle this issue can continue to progress at pace.”
Both carriageways of the A421 have been closed since flooding first occurred on Sunday 22 Sept when a month of rainfall fell in under 48 hours.
Efforts to clear the floodwater have been ongoing since with a fleet of 25 tankers working around the clock to remove water from the carriageway, which was estimated to be around 60 million litres in total.
The flooding of a local pumping station significantly contributed to the issue.
Once the water has been removed from the carriageway, an investigation and assessment will be carried out to better understand if there is damage to the road and what repair work will be needed.
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Wed 25 Sept:
National Highways is continuing to work around the clock to tackle the issue but is warning that despite having removed over 10 million litres of water – equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools – the road is likely to remain closed for a prolonged period that could amount to several days or more.
Following torrential rain over last weekend, the A421 was shut in both directions between A6 at Bedford to M1 junction 13 near Brogborough/Marston Moretaine. Both carriageways have been closed since Sunday evening (22 Sept)
Efforts to clear the floodwater have been ongoing since the weekend with a fleet of 25 tankers working around the clock to remove water from the carriageway, which was estimated to be around 60 million litres in total, and at its peak was 8ft deep.
The flooding of a local pumping station has significantly contributed to the issue.
Once the water has been removed from the carriageway, an investigation and assessment will be carried out to better understand if there is damage to the road and what repair work will be needed.
Martin Fellows, Regional Director for National Highways in the East of England, said:
“Let me reassure people that we are taking every possible measure we can to alleviate this situation and get the roads open as soon as possible.
“By the end of today we expect to have removed more than 10 million litres of water – that’s the same amount as you’d find in four Olympic swimming pools.
“The torrential weather experienced in this part of the country meant over a month’s rainfall fell in less than 48 hours. That overwhelmed the area and, for the first time we’ve experienced, flooded a nearby pumping station hampering our ability to deal this.
“This is an absolute priority as we don’t want people’s journeys impacted by disruption and all our efforts are focused on resolving this and getting the road open as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Given the ground conditions are so wet and we are having to transport the floodwater away from the immediate area and along pipework over 4km in distance, it’s important people realise the size of the task and this could take a number of days to resolve.
“I understand that people are curious and want to visit the scene but I would kindly request that members of the public continue to support us by staying away from the area so our work to tackle this issue can continue to progress at pace.”
The size of the task: estimated to be 60 million litres of floodwater
How to find out more:
For the latest information please visit National Highways dedicated A421 webpage and regional social media accounts on ‘X’ and Facebook.
Closures and diversions:
Due to localised flooding the diversion route could be subject to change. Please check our travel alerts page for the latest information.
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:
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