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Roads: Flood Control

Volume 464: debated on Monday 8 October 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which stretches of motorways were closed in June and July 2007 because of floods. (153842)

The stretches of motorways closed due to floods during June and July 2007 are given in table 1 as follows.

Table 1: Motorway closures due to flooding June and July 2007

Closures

Date in June/July

Motorway and junction(s)

A1(M) J35

26 June 2007

M1 J36 to 35a

26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007

M1 J36 - M1 J32 exit slip-roads

26 June 2007

M1 J35 entry slip-road

15 June 2007

M1 J35

26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007

M1 J34 exit slip-road

15 June 2007

M1 J34 exit slip-road

25 June 2007

M1 J34 southbound

26 June 2007 to 27 June 2007

M1 J33 slip-roads

26 June 2007 to 27 June 2007

Ml J32 northbound

26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007

M1 J32 (northbound slip-roads J33-34)

26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007

M1 J32-J34

26 June 2007

M4 westbound, J1 to J2 (elevated section)

14 June 2007

M4 eastbound J3 entry-slip

15 June 2007

Hard shoulder and lane 1 closure

M25 clockwise, J7-J8 lane 4 closure

20 July 2007

M25 clockwise, J8-J9 total closure

20 July 2007

M5 J14 entry slip northbound

20 July 2007

M5 J13 entry slip northbound

20 July 2007

M5 J12 entry slip northbound

20 July 2007

M5 J11 entry slip northbound

20 July 2007

M5 J11a northbound travelling to A417 eastbound slip road closed

20 July 2007

M5 between Junctions 11a and 12 southbound lane 1 closure

20 July 2007

M5 J10 entry slip northbound

20 July 2007

M5 J9 full closure in both directions

20 July 2007

M5 J4a southbound closed including J5, J6, J7 and J8 entry slips

20 July 2007 to 21 July 2007

M18-M1 J32 slips

26 June 2007

M18 J1 slip-roads

26 June 2007

M40 DBFO Warwick Services north and southbound entry slip

14 June 2007

M40 DBFO Warwick Services northbound entry slip

20 July 2007

M54 J6 westbound on slip

25 June 2007 to 26 June 2007

M50 westbound exit slip J1—closed due to flooding on A38

20 July 2007 to 21 July 2007

M50 (M5 J8-J4) closed in both directions

20 July 2007 to 21 July 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads the Highways Agency used (i) water containment and (ii) pumps to respond to floods since the beginning of June 2007. (153841)

The stretches of motorways and trunk roads on which the Highways Agency used water containment and/or pumps since the beginning of June 2007 is given in Tables 1 and 2 as follows. Several instances arose where flood warning signs were erected and gully clearance was necessary; these have not been included in the tables.

Table 1: Motorways where containment/pumps were used due to floods from June 2007 to-date

Motorway

Water containment (e.g. sandbags, barriers, etc.) Yes: comment/no

Pumps used. Yes: comment/no

A1(M) J8 northbound exit slip

Emergency lane 1 closure installed and emergency flood warning boards erected.

Stationary Pumps

A1(M) J8 northbound exit slip

Flood warning boards erected

Stationary Pumps

M1 J22 to 23 northbound

Flooding on the hard shoulder after heavy rain. Trenches dug in the verge to assist in drainage. Water receded.

No

M1 J19 southbound bottom of exit slip

No

Flooding on slip road from heavy rain—water cleared with pump

M1 Junction 38 northbound

No

Pumps used to protect farm property and livestock as river burst its banks

M3 J4

Sandbags for private property surface water not from the highway

No

M6 J13 and 14 northbound

Flooding on hard shoulder from heavy rainfall. Trench dug at rear of gulley and water receded. Road then swept dry.

No

M6 J14 to 15 northbound

Flooding on hard shoulder from heavy rain. Trenches dug in verge and water drained away.

No

M62 J26 eastbound

Sandbags used

No

Table 2: Trunk Roads where containment/pumps were used due to floods from June 2007 to-date

Trunk road

Water containment (e.g. sandbags, barriers, etc.)

Pumps used. yes/no

A1 Catterick

No

2 vactor units (which is a lorry with a watertank and pump) to keep the gullies clear.

DBFO A1 Darrington to Dishforth Wetherby

No

Pump used for loading water tanker for discharge off site and redirecting water into adjacent drainage system

A1 Nottinghamshire, Worksop and Retford

Sandbags at a number of locations to restrict flow of surface water off adjoining fields.

No

A3 Send

Flood boards

No

A5 westbound at Churchbridge nr. Cannock

No

Sheer volume of rainfall on the carriageway caused flooding of foul drainage lifting cover, allowing sewage onto carriageway—specialist contractor clearance using pumps to transfer waste to tank.

A5 Towcester

Sandbags used

No

A5 southbound, Duncote

Sandbags used

No

A5 north and southbound, Sheep Lane

No

Fire brigade supported with pumps.

A14 Bury St. Edmunds

No

Water pumped away into tanker

A27 Chichester

No

Pumps were used to remove water from the carriageway on three separate occasions

A34 Chievely

No

Pump was used to filter water out the Chievely Depot (which was flooded by pond) onto HA land at M4/A34 Chievely junction 13

A45/A46 Tollbar Island north and southbound Coventry

No

Pumped water to tanker

A46 Nottinghamshire, Bingham

No

Pumps used to remove surface water from carriageway at two locations

A50 Junction 24A Lockington Island nr. Derby

No

Flooding on one side of the island. Gulley jetted and water pumped to tanker

A50 east and westbound at Meir Tunnel—nr. Stoke on Trent

No

Tunnel closed due to heavy rainfall flooding tunnel. Gullies and interceptors jetted and water pumped to specialist tanker

A50 eastbound and westbound Meir tunnel nr. Stoke on Trent

No

Tunnel closure due to flooding from heavy rainfall. Catchpits pumped to tanker

A65 Coniston Cold

Flood boards erected on two separate occasions

No

A65 Settle

Flood boards

No

A66 Temple Sowerby

Flood boards erected on two separate occasions

No

A66 Crackenthorpe

Flood boards erected

No

A259 Rye

No

Pumps were used to remove water from the carriageway

A259 Bexhill

Flood boards and coned area temporarily

Pumps were used to remove water from the carriageway

A259 (underpass)1 Bexhill

No

Pumps were used to remove water from the underpass

A428 east and westbound Cambourne Duals

No

Pumps were used to remove water

A590 Lindal-in-Furness

Flood boards erected

No

A616 at Midhopestones

No

Pumps used to pump standing water from highway over a wall into underbank reservoir

A616 at Midhopestones

50 sandbags used

Pumps used to pump standing water from highway over a wall into underbank reservoir

1 The A259 underpass was affected on thirteen separate occasions. The Highways Agency are aware of the flooding issues there and are currently designing a scheme that will solve the problem this financial year.