The A421 is finally fully open after a closure of almost three weeks following heavy rainfall which flooded the road at Marston Moretaine.
Both carriageways reopened this afternoon after a phased reopening started earlier this week with an ‘up and over diversion’ at the Marston Moretaine junction and a single lane closure a few days later.
However, while both lanes in both directions are now fully open, there will be a speed restriction in place for the time being.
Martin Fellows, Regional Director for National Highways in the East Region, welcomed the development and said: “We’re pleased to have the eastbound carriageway of the A421 open again, within 24 hours after seeing westbound traffic return.
“Everyone at National Highways recognises the support shown by local residents during the disruption. However, we still have work to do, including testing of the safety barriers, before we can remove the temporary 40mph speed restrictions currently in place.”
The road was closed on 22 September between the A6 at Bedford to the M1 junction 13, near Brogborough/Marston Moretaine, after a month of rainfall fell in under 48 hours.
72 million litres of floodwater, which is equivalent to around 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools, had to be removed from the road using pumping equipment, 6km of pipes and a fleet of 25 tankers.
Water was dispersed to a number of sites where National Highways say it did not add to the already saturated ground.
This is a breaking news story, more details may be added as they become available.
