Drivers delayed as flooding closes A14 on Suffolk-Cambs border

Two lanes of the eastbound A14 in Suffolk remain shut due to flooding, with drivers still experiencing delays.

The road has been closed for much of Thursday between junctions 37 at Newmarket and junction 39 for Kentford.

National Highways said workers had been on site with tankers since last week trying to clear standing water after persistent heavy rainfall.

West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock said he would work with agencies to find the source of the flooding.

National Highways said it had remained on scene since 22 February but despite "best efforts" to remove the flood water, changes in weather conditions had left levels high.

Ben Wells, who uses the road to commute between Huntingdon and Bury St Edmunds, has told the BBC that the situation is "outrageous".

He said: "It is outrageous how little is being done to get this major road open again.

"I have been commuting every day this week and all I have seen is a couple of people in high visibility vests, the disruption and lack of updates is appalling."

Sally Schroeder was towing a horse when her car "ground to a halt" at 09:41 GMT under the A1 bridge.

She said she did not reach her turn off until 14:45.

"I was towing a horse which made it even more stressful and there were no signs anywhere to say that the road was closed or to take a different route," she said.

Drivers have been advised to exit the A14 at junction 37 and join the A142 into Newmarket.

They should then follow the A1304 to the B1506 before joining the A14 eastbound at junction 39 at Kentford.

Mr Hancock said: "The situation on the A14 is completely unacceptable and I understand the frustration felt by motorists, given the length of the delays.

"The superb upgrade to the A14 missed out the Newmarket junction and now motorists are paying the price.

"We need to upgrade the whole A142 junction and, even more urgently, we need a better alternative route so traffic is no longer diverted down Newmarket High Street."

Mr Hancock said he would be working with the Highways Agency and Anglian Water to find the source of the flooding.

Anglian Water said it was "confident" the leak on the A14 was not from its network.

A spokesperson said: "We've seen no visible signs of leakage, and our acoustic listening technology and water sampling tests have also confirmed this. "The key thing is that if we did have a leak of this size, we'd be seeing considerable customer impact and lots of operational alarms.

"We're not seeing any of this, we haven't had any customers in the area call in about being off water, or having low pressure, which further confirms that the leak is not from our network."

Simon Amor, from National Highways, said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to local communities.

"The team is making every effort to remove the standing water in all lanes.

"However, they are facing challenges as the water continues to return after removal. We urge drivers to avoid the area, if possible."

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