Several roads across Merseyside have been closed due to flooding following heavy rain, as the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the entire region.
The warning, which took effect at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, will remain in place until 9 p.m. tonight. The Met Office cautions that the heavy rain could lead to travel disruptions and localised flooding.
Merseyside Police's road policing unit has received multiple reports of flooded roads throughout the area. A spokesperson stated, "Despite police presence and road closure signs, some motorists are ignoring them and attempting to drive through flooded areas. Several drivers have now been reported for careless driving." Additionally, traffic service Inrix has confirmed that Valley Road Eastbound, from B5194 Aintree Lane to M57 J6 in Kirkby, has been closed due to flooding.
The situation has worsened with the closure of Queens Drive in south Liverpool, a road that has a tragic history of flooding. Local councillor and Lord Mayor Richard Kemp informed residents that the road has been shut down as a precautionary measure. Queens Drive was the site of a deadly flood last summer, where married couple Elaine and Philip Marco tragically lost their lives after their car was trapped in rising waters under a railway bridge.
Since the incident, the city council has installed new safety technology in the area, including flood sensors that trigger automatic barriers to close the road when water levels rise. However, today’s heavy rain has once again forced the road to be closed, while nearby Rose Lane is also shut for gas main replacement work, prompting concerns about significant traffic delays and congestion.
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