Frequently asked questions

What improvements have been done on Gdynia Way to prevent flooding?

The drainage works as part of the East End Transport scheme will not resolve all the flooding issues along Gdynia Way, but they will help to reduce them. This is because all the new works connect into an existing sewerage system that has operational problems. However the following work has been undertaken as part of the scheme to improve the drainage:

• The existing highway drain along Gdynia Way that was previously blocked with silt has been cleaned and the silt removed.
• A new combined kerb drainage system has been installed along Gdynia Way between Cattedown and Elliot Road Bridges. This is designed to collect and store surface water run-off from this area, before discharging back into the existing Sewerage system.
• New road gullies have been and will continue to be installed in other areas along Gdynia Way.
• A new flood early warning system is being installed into the existing pumping station beneath Laira Bridge Road bridge, that will warn if the pumps are not able to cope with the amount of water entering the pumping station.

The new drainage system has doubled the capacity of the highway drainage in this area. Its purpose is to remove surface water from the road, store these flows and ultimately discharge the flows to the existing system.

Is the new Elliott Road Bridge higher than the existing one?

The new Elliott Road Bridge will be slightly higher than the existing bridge because the new traffic lane on Gdynia Way has meant that the bridge span has had to increase from 9m to almost 20m. Therefore the depth of the bridge deck has had to increase to support this longer span, which has all served to raise the height of the final road level on top of the bridge.

In order to reduce the impact of the increased height of the bridge deck, the existing road surface will be re-laid between the junctions with Mainstone Avenue and Cattewater Road. This will serve to flatten the road profile and ensure that sufficient visibility is provided for drivers. Traffic calming is being provided on both the north and south sides of the bridge to keep vehicle speeds within the 30mph limit.