Work starts on installing new innovative signs for Welney Wash

Works began this week on installing new innovative electronic signs on the A1101 Welney Wash Road near Downham Market - a stretch of road which often becomes impassable as a result of flooding.  

The signs which are being funded by the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance and installed by Westcotec are fitted with innovative LoRaWAN technology, the signs will also allow Norfolk County Council to explore pioneering ways to share messages warning drivers of flooding and road closures through social media channels and to in-vehicle sat nav systems. 

Councillor Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport said "Safety on our roads is our main priority. These innovative new signs will use cutting-edge technology and be deployed over an area spanning around 13 miles, placed strategically to give sufficient advance warning to drivers so that they can use alternative, suitable routes instead of the A1101. These new signs will be easy to read in tough weather conditions and will hopefully avoid vehicles becoming trapped on the flooded road as we have seen in previous years." 

The A1101 links Littleport to Wisbech and several villages in between including Welney, Upwell and Outwell. The road is the lowest in England, rarely rising above sea level and is prone to flooding when the Ouse Washes Flood Storage Reservoir is filled with excess water, making it impassable to all traffic. In the past, motorists have regularly ended up stranded on the A1101 including, in the past, heavy goods vehicles, as diversion signs were not followed.  

Councillor Chris Dawson, the local member for Marshland South said "I'm delighted that these new signs are being installed at Welney. I've personally been working to deliver improvements since before I was an elected councillor, so it's great to see it finally come to fruition. It's fantastic that we're using the latest technology to alert motorists as quickly as possible to rising flood waters and road closures in real time, meaning that people will be able to access up to date, reliable information quickly and easily." 

The Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance is funding the upgrade, which will see eight diversion signs converted to fully electronic signs. Switching on and displaying a diversion route when the road is flooded. The installation and upgrade of all signs along the route is due to be completed early 2025. 

Additional information

The A1101 is an A class road, so is considered a regionally, strategically important road. It runs through the middle of the Ouse Washes Flood Storage Reservoir, which is a large area of wetland that acts as a natural floodplain for the River Great Ouse. The reservoir is part of a flood defence system that protects more than 10,000 homes and businesses in nearby towns and villages, such as Downham Market, Littleport, Ely and St Ives. It also provides a valuable habitat for wildlife, especially birds, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar site. 

LoRaWAN is a low-power wide-area network which wirelessly connects battery-operated devices to the Internet. LoRa technology is widely used and rapidly growing due to its security, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.   

The Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA) was founded in February 2021. It was founded  after significant surface water flooding issues in December 2020. 

The NSFA brings together all agencies and partners involved in planning for and responding to flooding in Norfolk. Read more about the NSFA.