A421 re-opens after flood closure

The A421 in Bedfordshire re-opened to traffic on Monday morning after a two-week closure caused by major flooding.

National Highways said a section of the route between the A6 at Bedford to the M1 Junction 13 near Brogborough/Marston Moretaine has been closed since 22 September after a month of rainfall fell in under 48 hours.

Martin Fellows, regional director for the East of England, said: ‘We have made significant progress with our teams working around the clock to reopen the A421.

‘Due to damage caused by flooding to some sections of the road, repair works will continue. Sections will be reduced to one lane in places and there will be diversions and speed restrictions to keep everyone safe.'

Following the re-opening, National Highways said traffic would initially be diverted off the A421 in both directions via the exit slip roads at Marston Moretaine to the top of the junction to rejoin the A421 via the entry slip roads. 

This was to allow assessments of the carriageway surface immediately under the overbridge and works to the pumping station to continue.

Last week National Highways said continued rainfall and run-off from surrounding areas was making the situation ‘extremely challenging’ after it had already removed more than 24 million litres of water from the road, enough to fill 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools.