Has anyone else noticed the newly installed construction on Meadowhall Drive?

The road has been closed off for a couple of months while the thing was installed. It looks like they have created some sort of barrier thing that can be pulled across the road.

If it is a barrier, when closed it would be about 12 foot high, and would span the entire road and pavements and effectively seal off the road completely. Walls at either end stretch to the embankments on either side of the road.

Anybody have any ideas as to what it is?

Is that where they demolished alvac from?

I remember seeing a very deep hole across the road, and wondered what they were doing.....





... Perhaps it's for crowd control at Christmas? :hihi:



(or does the area suffer from flooding?
It is near the river isn't it?)

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=439500.201638638&Y=390500.146754407&width=700&height=400&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=10000&left.x=3&left.y=144
Just checked the map, and it looks like there may be a railway cutting that may bring any river flooding across that way

The road was closed for "Flood prevention" work. Seems like overkill to me. Why install a flood barrier on a small road with a small dip in it that I have never seen flooded before :confused: bizarre.........

Not seen it yet,

The railway used to go over the road here didnt it? Is the barrier where the bridge used to be?

Meadowhall drive is more or less parallel to the Don here, so which way is the barrier going to stop the flooding from?

This is a handy short cut to Meadowhall, maybe its to close the road for traffic control?

it is as been said for flood prevention, the cycle path down the side of the don has now also had a wall bulit along the side of it, the don in that area has broken its banks a few times, the last time was about 2 yrs back when it totally covered the road running along side the don going to meadowhall

i admit that i was suprised that they thought it necesary to barrier off that road but i dont know the levels that well and its possible the don could sneak round via weedon street

anyone know of an exact land height map for that area on the web?

dave

Blimey, that works been going on for ages! Still, nobody seems to have worked out how to stop the flooding under the railway bridge at Upwell Street yet, which happens every time there's heavy rain, and generally causes the entire road to the blocked. :shakes:

If it was to block the road off to traffic, a few cones and a road closed sign would do the trick. This does look more like a flood barrier.

For those who havent seen it, the entire structure stretches across the road where the railway bridge used to cross. It's built from one railway embankment to the other, thus creating a complete barrier.

Flood defences make sense, but I cant see that particular bit being the problem if flooding were to occur. Surely the water would find its way directly to Meadowhall from further down, where it passes near by. Unless the level of the river drops significantly around there, say over a wier of something, meaning it's most likely to break it's banks further up and come down Weedon Street...

I admit to not knowing a thing about flood defences though.


Edit: Actually, looking at the course of the river round there, it does make sense.

Ive seen it now, far to over the top for traffic control!

It is a flood barrier.

Why? Lord knows. I 've worked just around the corner for over 7 years and not once seen any sign of flooding here.

Closing the gate before the horse has even thought about bolting.

I suppose it's better to get it built now rather than waiting for meadowhall to get flooded at some point in the future.

It has been built by the Meadowhall Centre to protect against a 1 in 100 year risk of flooding.

Some background information is available in the Planning Application Report, which can be read here (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/council-meetings/planning-boards/city-centre-south-and-east/agenda-2nd-august-2004/planning-applications).

Excellent link cgk - pretty definitive.

Thanks :thumbsup:

The meadowhall area is along the River Don and the Sheffield Tinsley Canal. The area is prone to flooding as you can see on the environment services website

http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?topic=floodmap&ep=map&lang=_e&x=439123.0&y=390880.0&scale=5&layerGroups=1,&layerGroupToQuery=1&location=S9%201EP

The road will be shut next Wed (12th) from 9.30 til 15.30 for a trial installation of the barrier.

*bump*

There's info above that might be useful.

Well I think the events of 25th June 2007 show how it was worth installing. The water was just topping the barrier at about 6pm. Without the barrier Meadowhall would have been badly damaged.

At last a link to a picture of the flood barrier being used, you can see the water just topping the barrier.

http://www.rimmo.eclipse.co.uk/defence1.jpg

It is a flood barrier.

Why? Lord knows. I 've worked just around the corner for over 7 years and not once seen any sign of flooding here.

:blush::blush: Well there's always a first time. :hihi:

Doesn't look to have been a great deal of use tho cos both side are pretty deep in water. :huh:

The road was closed for "Flood prevention" work. Seems like overkill to me. Why install a flood barrier on a small road with a small dip in it that I have never seen flooded before :confused: bizarre.........

Hehe, I like this post!:hihi:

I guess this didn't work then?

The planners must have had the greatest foresight ever to predict this would happen.... I take my hat off to them and eat humble pie

:hihi:

What's the betting that they build a 6 foot concrete barrier between Meadowhall and the river in the near future!

Who ever made the decision to build them really will feel pleased with themselves.

Yes the water got in, but it wasn't the fast flowing river it could have been as happened on the Wicker for instance, which would have caused much more damage.

I was down there around 6 to 7pm on the 25th and it certainly delayed, and reduced the damage.

Higher flood protection would need to encircle Meadowhall, at the moment it is just along the river bank and Vulcan road, the issue then is with water coming in from the drains, and rainfall etc. If you seal the drains it is just like putting Meadowhall in a big bucket, yes the water from outside would be kept out, but the water inside would be kept in.

They would need a pumping station within the boundary to pump any waste water out, when you think of the surface area of carparks and roofs then you would need some hefty pumps, and a backup power supply to run the pumps.

Maybe now this has happened it will be deemed cost effective but I doubt it unless it happens again within 10 years.

Who ever made the decision to build them really will feel pleased with themselves.

Yes the water got in, but it wasn't the fast flowing river it could have been as happened on the Wicker for instance, which would have caused much more damage.

I was down there around 6 to 7pm on the 25th and it certainly delayed, and reduced the damage.

I was thankful for this flood barrier after walking from Spital hill along Carlise St then up Holywell Road trying to get across with no sucess, then down Jenkin Road and finally managed cross at Meadowhall Way all thanks to the flood barrier at the end of Vulcan Road.

The road was closed for "Flood prevention" work. Seems like overkill to me. Why install a flood barrier on a small road with a small dip in it that I have never seen flooded before :confused: bizarre.........

I dont blame you whatsoever.... but... how wrong can you be! :D