HUGE Improvement on the A421 flood |

[@driftingsnow]

I live in Bedford. I am an engineer! I can’t believe how stupid the engineering was on this. The road chaos is ridiculous. Brilliant footage and commentary by you. 😢

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Thank you

[@nicholasroberts6954]

If civil engineers will insist on building under bridge road thoroughfares in such a way that they gouge out the under-bridge section, to save the cost of having to raise the bridge height, and at the same time don't provide built-in under bridge flash-flood relief, on a major road, when global warming weather effects are known to be operant . . .what do they expect. In this case they've got open fields next door where they could discharge flood water. You don't see this on railways, where roads or other railways bridge a railway. Gouging out an under-bridge section is perhaps understandable with existing railways bridges over roads where say a new bridge is to be installed and it has a frame which sits below its predecessor's clearance height - that may be the unavoidable . . The alternate being to alter the trackbed height going back several hundred yards on each side in order to provide a smooth transition for the track over the road . . . which would be more costly than simply lowering the road height as it passes under a bridge. I would say typical Ministry of Transport, saving money. Same old story going back years. Look what the did to the original M1 - under-specified the foundations for the inside lane because they didn't anticipate the level of lorry traffic that would using it. Result, the inner lane surface broke up and they had to re-engage contractors to dig it up and renewcthe foundations and the surface. In my locality, Thames water built, some 30 years ago, underground storage tanks that could temporarily hold flash flood surface water and then pump it out into the main sewer when the deluge passes. Its hardly cutting edge technology

[@gregsurridge7969]

It looks lower than the fields😮

[@sbrandom]

Thank you so much for the updates. I live locally and the traffic build up around the surrounding roads has been crazy, so to see progress is encouraging and I applaud you for your efforts.

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

You're welcome.

[@modularcarpet]

Great footage and commentary! Much better than what’s on the news.

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Thank you 🤩

[@sharonevans2467]

Great update and commentary. Still gonna take a while to clear all that mud. Thank you

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

A road cleaner turned up as I had finished filming but was still doing photography. If you look at the photos on Facebook you'll see it. White truck on the slipway.

[@jonny-yc1kz]

Thanks for covering this, I live locally but am avoiding Marston, so it's good to get this update.

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Have to drive to Wootton for a kebab until this nightmare is over

[@MrOllieBD]

I live and work locally and it transpires that despite there being a perfectly adequate pumping station installed as some have mentioned, the motor was stolen, allegedly by travellers, back in July and the replacement parts are on back order. This has been confirmed but several contractors who are currently working on the roadside.

[@byEckyThump]

‘The pump don’t work ‘cause the vandals took the handle’ - or in this case the motor. (Bob Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues 1965.)

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Interesting. At the last council meeting a councillor did ask if it had been stolen but nobody was willing to answer

[@TheGrumpybstard]

There is no evidence whatsoever that travellers have nicked the pump. Using this chaos as an opportunity for racism is unwelcome.

[@nickhill2223]

Hook Loader Truck carries a High Volume Pump set and hose carrier, same as the Fire service use, (believe it is manufactured by a Dutch Company). Pump head is hydraulic, there will be a pair of hydraulic hoses running back to the Power Pack, then the 6" delivery hose is then laid out to a suitable discharge point. Those things can move some water when they get going!

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

It looked like a proper bit of kit.

[@hayleyburrows]

Thanks for the update

[@g8ymw]

5:17 Pump switch gear. The big door on the right with the lever in the middle and the display above it is the main incoming supply Why build it in the bottom of the underpass?

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Ridiculous design

[@brianrobinson3236]

Another winner! Great.

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Thanks again!

[@michaelmiklosofficial]

Where will the ducks swim to now?

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Nobody knows. Maybe set up a gofundme?

[@whyyoulidl]

Watched 3 of your drone coverage on this. Liked, shared and subbed. Job's a good'un 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Much appreciated!

[@MePeterNicholls]

took them a long time to get the big boy pumps in tho didnt it. thats not good contingency planning

[@DavidKnowles0]

That the prettiest dirt I have seen on this channel so far.

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

It's beautiful 😍

[@martinmumper3355]

Thats a decent sized and modern pumping station looks about 4 pumps something must have gone really wrong they will probably use something like a bucher beam sweeper to clean up the road

[@g8ymw]

What's the betting that some of those pumps were out of commission? After all, they're run by a government agency

[@iangibson7866]

Its a hook loader truck or roll on roll off (Ro-Ro)

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Thank you

[@bobski666]

Why put the pump switch gear at the bottom ?

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Ridiculous!

[@heskethlupo]

why could you not go up the slip road and down the other side???? when it happened

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

It was underwater

[@af757]

In-built drainage worked well then....

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Very poor design

[@TheToastPeople]

I wonder how long they will faff around cleaning up the mud... Im gonna say atleast another week lol

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Nah, they will get some heavy machine in. A road sweeper/cleaner had just turned up as I stopped filming, there are photos on Facebook, you can see it in the slip road. White truck.

[@jjones5083]

Very good work. What I'd like to know is what time of day was this shot ? I assume it was on the 4th & in the afternoon ? (I cycled up there early in the evening)

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

I shot it this evening probably between 5-6pm.

[@MePeterNicholls]

as the temperature has been pretty consistent over the last week, i'd have said the main surface of the road would be probably fine after cleaning. the slip roads may have had land slipage though?

[@whyyoulidl]

But what'll happen when we get the first heavy frost; Surely it'll crack to buggery?

[@novasigma5964]

One slip road is being resurfaced

[@MePeterNicholls]

@@whyyoulidl not any more than normal. It’s freezing while water is there that causes that damage. Once this is dried up it’s fine.

[@mlgboy1]

Great video update and some cheeky flying too. Well done. What drone are you using the image quality is great?

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

This one was a DJI mini 4 pro but I use other drones. Depends on where I am and what I'm filming.

[@nrgjdizzle]

What's coming next week more rain.

[@jamesbeckwith3639]

Instead of having those 4 tankers stood doing nothing by that slip road why don't they have 2 more tankers sucking up water on the opposite carriageway, either next to the other 2 tankers or on the other side of the bridge.

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Other side of bridge is just mud now and there are only 2 pump heads in the water on either side to hook up to. That'll be why.

[@GRC-Kingston]

What Drone are you using mate?

[@PhillipParr]

6:17

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Mini 4 pro

[@michaelgregor2467]

Why does it sound like you’re out breath ?

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

I'm fat and lazy.

[@jamesbeckwith3639]

Why aren't the council getting all this extra work that they reckon needs doing started... The slip roads aren't underwater any more.. while the rest of the water is being pumped out these jobs could be getting done and the quicker the road can be opened and the quicker the surrounding areas can get back to normal.

[@PhillipParr]

I assume the ground is still sodden and needs to drain out a bit before they want to start working on it

[@DanProcrastinatesDIY]

It's the Highway Agency's responsibility, not the council.

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

It's highways agency, nothing to do with council.

[@ayaanbretmitchell9830]

So what actually happened?

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

They all lived happily ever after.

[@ayaanbretmitchell9830]

@@ProjectUniversalUK cool what a wonderful story. Makes me all warm inside.

[@Brynben1]

Top man😂

[@shanemason6358]

You should still be in line of sight of the drone you need to look up vlos law

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

I am but with all the fencing and gantry etc I'm just being extra cautious. I can only see from one angle.

[@barryamorris]

What model drone are you using?

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

I use various drones, this one was filmed on a mini 4 pro.

[@ryanlotgd]

proberly just about all gone by the time i type this

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Towards MK is clean now, towards Bedford is still mucky.

[@gregsurridge7969]

That road needs re thinking its to low almost water table low its going to happen again close the road buold it up or do do something its going to happen again 😮

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

They need to move the switchgear up high

[@apremji75]

I wonder who is paying the bill for this? great drone skills

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Highways agency I would have thought. Thanks.

[@mrpaulhutchison249]

It's all about the money dog down deep they will have a fix that should of been done in the first place

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Dig down to bedrock to provide drainage? Might work

[@ededdynova]

Utterly ridiculous get 10 pumps 1/4 mile of linked pipes pump into lake thats 20m below road level tankers are a waste of time and money this section has been a issue since day one of opening with pumping station that was built in the dip (utter stupidity) also an after thought

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Hopefully they move it higher now but too little too late.

[@kaysherwood9178]

What a waste of of time listening to you no help what so ever 👎👎👎👎👎👎

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

I still love you Kay 😘

[@madgebishop5409]

flying that drone way to close to that guy, the law states 50m horizontal distance from people on the ground...footage has been forwarded to the CAA, very poor piloting

[@ProjectUniversalUK]

Wind your neck in, it's a sub 250g drone. I am very aware of what I can and cannot do. This is perfectly legal. Maybe the CAA can share it? More subscribers 👌