No plans to raise A417 at Maisemore despite flooding
THERE are no plans to raise the level of the A417 through Maisemore to prevent flooding, despite a lengthy closure.
The well-used route in and out of Gloucester was shut for 11 days over Christmas, causing a headache for villagers and drivers.
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UNDERWATER: The closed A417 to Maisemore.
But Gloucestershire County Council said work to lift it would cost several million pounds and would not guarantee it stayed dry.
The news came as the Met Office forecast heavy rain for tonight.
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Maisemore Parish Council was due to meet last night to discuss a raft of issues regarding the flooding of the village in November and December.
It saw some homes evacuated and drivers diverted through Highnam and Highleadon.
Maisemore Parish chairman Jeremy Chamberlayne said: "There has been damage to the road and the signage during the flooding has been unsatisfactory.
"I believe the road itself is unstable and, in time, it could subside and be virtually impassable.
"We hope to get some answers from highways."
Maisemore resident Dean Cox said he missed three days of work and did not see his children until the New Year because of the closure.
He said: "If they lifted the road and there was still drainage underneath to allow water to run out to the river it would stay open a lot longer and not be closed for 10 days like it was."
Another driver said: "Raising this relatively short stretch of road is desperately needed and long overdue. The expense incurred by drivers regularly forced to undertake lengthy diversions surely vastly exceeds the cost of the necessary construction?"
Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet member for communities said the A417 at Maisemore only flooded when the river was extremely high.
Until November it had been more than a year since the council was last forced to close it due to flooding.
He added: "Raising the A417 would cost several million pounds and given how close the road is to a major river, we couldn't guarantee it doesn't flood in future.
"We'll certainly keep the idea under review though.
"We're always looking at ways we can cut the risk of flooding to Gloucestershire homes, businesses and infrastructure."
Comments
by TimMessanger
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 5:42PM
“If they need the cash, sit someone on Southgate street with a speed camera could pay for the road in a couple of months/years!”
by TimMessanger
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 5:38PM
“How about building a new road on the far side of the current road with an elevated section where it flooded this time and large culverts at regular intervals. You could then dig up the old road and give more area for the water when the river is in flood.”
by geraint2010
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 11:08AM
“A low-cost solution would be to install under-road culverts and build a 3-foot wall either side of the road along this flood-prone and relatively short stretch of the A417.”
by daveofglos
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 7:46AM
“Apologies - that should obviously read "1947"”
by daveofglos
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 7:46AM
“My comment didn't appear so I'm trying again:
The phrase "...given how close the road is to a major river, we couldn't guarantee it doesn't flood in future" is patently incorrect.
It all depends how much you raise it. You could guarantee it by buying a flyover. you only need to raise it, say, 600mm above 1957 flood levels to reasonably guarantee it. After all if a flood reached that sort of level Gloucester would be devastated so there would be no reason to go there anyway!”