Threat to flood-hit road subsides with pump upgrade

Floodwater equivalent to 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools was pumped out after last September's torrential rain

A dual carriageway that was partly shut due to severe flooding has new pumps in place to reduce the risk of future closures.

The A421, which links the A1 and M1 south of Bedford, was closed for nearly three weeks last September after a month's worth of rain fell in less than 48 hours, leaving the highway submerged at the Marston Moretaine interchange.

Although the road flooded again in July, due to a generator fault affecting temporary pumps, National Highways said long-term measures were now in place.

The agency added the pumps had been relocated away from the lowest part of the road, ensuring water could be pumped away "as quickly as possible".

National Highways believes long-term measures will reduce future disruption in the event of heavy rainfall

Following last year's flooding, National Highways removed 72 million litres of water before the road reopened in October.

Work to relocate the pumping station to higher ground began in March, with officials confident the upgrade would prevent further emergency closures despite the area being deemed a flood risk.

Police were called to assist with lane closures during the July incident this year, which was resolved later that day once the mechanical fault was identified and fixed.

When the major flooding occurred, the pumps were located at the lowest point of the road, putting them under water.

National Highways said the relocation of the pumps would mean the equipment itself should not get submerged in any future flood.

Martin Fellows, regional director of operations in the East of England, said: "We won't have the same issues with the road itself because the pumps will operate independently [on higher ground], and therefore will ensure we can pump the water away as quickly as possible should a problem occur."