Barking Road, in Needham Market, closed as Suffolk Highways clears floodwater after Storm Babet

Highways teams continue to face challenges as they try to clear a road in Needham Market, which flooded during Storm Babet.

Contractors have introduced a ‘hard closure’ on the B1078, Barking Road, after previous barriers were taken away, giving the impression road was still open.

Today, a tanker has been sent to Needham Market to pump out floodwater.

On social media, Suffolk Highways said contractors will also be clearing vegetation and debris from surrounding ditches.

Last week successful jetting of the culverts and kerb-offlets (a type of drainage system) was completed at the road in Needham Market.

In a Facebook post, Suffolk Highways said: “We have all experienced the weather over the weekend and today and this is continuing to create challenges for the operational team on site.”

It confirmed that once the work is completed over the coming days, a re-inspection will need to take place before the road can be re-opened – if it is safe to do so.

Currently the inspection is scheduled for tomorrow.

In an update on December 8, Suffolk Highways apologised for the ‘frustration’ the flooding had caused for drivers in the area.

It explained that the gullies in Barking Road were cleared under a cyclical programme on September 22, 2023 however the heavy rain experienced during Storm Babet, in October, caused debris to block culverts (structures that channels water past an obstacle).

This lead to ‘excessive water’ on the road.

On November 28, a drainage contractor removed the floodwater to make the road safe and allow for ditching work to happen.

However, later that evening there was more heavy rainfall meaning the floodwater returned – resulting in the Suffolk Highways team carrying out further investigation.

Suffolk Highways said it will be updating drivers with updates on the road closure through their social media channels.