Main road flooded despite weekly drain inspections
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The Highways Agency says drains on the A249 are inspected
weekly.
The statement comes after last week’s flooding which led to an
accident.
Surface water collected in a number of places on the dual
carriageway between Sittingbourne and Sheppey during the Thursday
morning rush hour.
A police spokesman said a vehicle hit water in the outside lane,
Maidstone-bound, underneath the Key Street roundabout at about 8am,
resulting in it aquaplaning into the central reservation.
The outside lane was coned off and officers had to clear a
blocked drain with shovels. No one in the vehicle was hurt.
It is not the first time that section of the A249 has flooded.
In August 2010, heavy rain led to the road being closed while a
flood was cleared. The same thing happened in June last year.
The Highways Agency is responsible for drainage on the A249, and
spokesman Kelson Dos Santos said the drains are regularly
checked.
He said: “Safety is one of the Highways Agency’s top priorities.
Our contractor undertakes a comprehensive inspection and
maintenance regime of our drainage.
"There’s a weekly inspection in known problem areas to remove
debris and build-up that creates flooding. They clear litter and
any sort of debris.”
The Highways Agency admitted there had been a flooding problem
at the same spot on the opposite side of the A249.
Mr Dos Santos said: “We have a history of water that builds up
within that stretch on the northbound carriageway. Major work has
been carried out to clear that.”
He added that drainage gullies are cleaned once a year, the last
time being April last year.
Meanwhile, police advised motorists driving in wet conditions to
slow down, avoid tail-gating, particularly behind lorries and
buses, watch out for brake lights and turn on headlights.
- In a separate incident last Thursday, a car was left up an
embankment on the A249. Four vehicles were thought to have been
involved in a collision on the Maidstone-bound carriageway at 8am,
near the Grovehurst turn-off. It is not believed anybody was
hurt.
Thursday, February 02 2012
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