The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway linking St Ives, Cambridge and Trumpington opened on 7 August 2011. This blog is now closed to new posts and comments. It was set up for people who travelled the busway, either as bus passengers, or users of the cycle/footpath such as pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
The blog remains visible as a historic record. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the blog over the past decade.
Friday, 21 December 2012
Flooding - 21 December
The busway cycle track is again flooded between St Ives and Fen Drayton Reserve, so I'd advise people to divert via Fenstanton until further notice. The track is still OK between Fen Drayton Reserve and Swavesey.
Yep, yesterday coming home it was fine and then this morning it was up to over a foot deep, which was unfortunte as I was not expecting it and tried to cycle through. With the weather forecast over the next few days I suspect its all going to get flooded again down to Swavesey. Such a shame.
On my way back from Cambridge this afternoon, I turned off the busway at Fen Drayton, and returned to St Ives via Fenstanton. Low Road is flooded and there is a closed sign up which many motorist are ignoring. There is water across the road at the entrance to Crystal Lakes. I managed to cycle through the water, but beware of passing motorists going through the flood too fast and sending up a hug spray of water.
Could be difficult if Low Road gets flooded even deeper. There would then be no obvious cycle route from St Ives to Fenstanton except the A14 or via Hilton ( OK in the other direction via the one-way road). Let us know how you get on.
Well came home late last night at 9, 3 sections north of where you can turn off to go to Fen Drayton, all under water completely. Even the concrete bridge itself is now under water, and one of those brick monument things in only showing one layer of bricks through the water. Also the section opposite Marshalls is totally gone.
And its still raining, shame really cause it had just started to dry out !
Also an incident at the Histon section which I saw coming back, police cars etc. and people being walked off, who I cycled behind while they did. its on the CEN web site.
Sunday 23rd - cycle track is now flooded from St Ives almost to Swavesey. Holywell Ferry Road is under water, so no access on foot or by bicycle to Fen Drayton Reserve bus stop. The 'brick thing' mentioned by Kevin is now completely under water.
Well today was a challenge to say the least, took the low road, but its almost a foot under water, so got my feet well and truly wet, but still able to cycle through. Then Fen Drayton, near the pub the road had vanished under water as well.
Coming back against a very strong wind, the water had not really receded, so wet feet again but at least I could leave early and it was more daylight.
I can't imagine how bad the bus way track must be, but I think Boxing day I may take a walk out there and have a look.
There is a fine line between walking along the banking of the bus way, and taking the diversion along the low road, time wise I don't think there is much in it, but the bus way is safer. Thursday I may take the bus way and just walk those bits....
Merry Christmas to you all, lets hope for a drier 2013 !
Tried to cycle down there yesterday, the level of flooding is truly shocking. All 5 dip sections completely under water along with all the other shallow bits as well. At least 80% is under water.
The concrete bridge thing is gone, as are the fence posts. So back on the Low Road which is only a foot deep.
Thanks, Kevin. I went to Cambridge on the bus today so I saw how bad it is. I thought the water might have gone down a few inches judging by the tidemarks of driftwood. However, here at St Ives, the water level has only gone down about a couple of inches - not enough to make much of a difference.
Just checked back through my blog. The cycle track closed 23rd November when the flooding started, and then reopened 16th December. It flooded again on 21st December. So that's 31 days so far, I reckon.
Well the Low Road was still closed this am, but easily passable, with very little flooding. Came back via GBW as I wanted to see it in the light.
Flooding is still extensive, with only one dip, the little one just before the left turn off to Fen Drayton being clear, all the rest are still completely impassable. If your coming from Swavesey to St Ives the first 2 dips are starting to recede, but the third is still a lake, with the fence posts just visible.
At the start of each section the amount of debris that has washed down is incredible, all the green rolled plastic things that protect the trees have all floated to the end, and one section looks like the end of a dam !
The debris on the section where the water has completely receded, covers the entire section and up near the concrete bridge an entire half of tree has floated down to the track, must be at least a foot wide and 8 feet long. The concrete bridge is now free from water but covered entirely in debris of sticks and twigs and branches.
All in all, a complete mess. It needs a complete clean up, but I doubt that's going to happen, as the section from Swavesey to Longstanton where those workmen were is still full of mud all over it.
But I saw on the weather today that the next 3-4 weeks will be rain free, but I don't think it will have drained away that quick though...
So I leave 2012 in the rain on the bike, exactly how it started, happy new year to all, lets hope for a drier 2012 !
Guys, don't Cycle the busway when flooded, its not good for your bike or your safety. Yes low road floods too, but if your going to Cambridge, go via Hilton, trust me its not slower than battling through floods water. When St ives to Fen Drayton end goes down, turn off at nature reserve and head to Swavsey that way. I'm lucky, I can train on the home trainer, and avoided cycling out of my way on a work day. But when its flooded and I want Cycle Cycle knowing its flooded, I go via Hilton or Papworth. Church lanes Hilton flooded as well this time. If you see me say hi, I'm on the White Scott Foil40. In Team Sky gear.
If I can't go low road, I go up Elsworth way, either, coming back to Swavsey or carry on up to Bourne Toft. Bit of a detour but once off the main road at Hilton or just before Papworth, a very pleased ride.
Yep, yesterday coming home it was fine and then this morning it was up to over a foot deep, which was unfortunte as I was not expecting it and tried to cycle through. With the weather forecast over the next few days I suspect its all going to get flooded again down to Swavesey. Such a shame.
ReplyDeleteOn my way back from Cambridge this afternoon, I turned off the busway at Fen Drayton, and returned to St Ives via Fenstanton. Low Road is flooded and there is a closed sign up which many motorist are ignoring. There is water across the road at the entrance to Crystal Lakes. I managed to cycle through the water, but beware of passing motorists going through the flood too fast and sending up a hug spray of water.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin and Andrew for your updates, I was hoping to use the route over xmas. I'll find another way!
ReplyDeleteCould be difficult if Low Road gets flooded even deeper. There would then be no obvious cycle route from St Ives to Fenstanton except the A14 or via Hilton ( OK in the other direction via the one-way road). Let us know how you get on.
DeleteWell came home late last night at 9, 3 sections north of where you can turn off to go to Fen Drayton, all under water completely. Even the concrete bridge itself is now under water, and one of those brick monument things in only showing one layer of bricks through the water. Also the section opposite Marshalls is totally gone.
ReplyDeleteAnd its still raining, shame really cause it had just started to dry out !
Also an incident at the Histon section which I saw coming back, police cars etc. and people being walked off, who I cycled behind while they did. its on the CEN web site.
Thanks for passing on this information. I've created a new post for this incident. I'm presuming it happened at the footpath crossing near Histon.
DeleteSunday 23rd - cycle track is now flooded from St Ives almost to Swavesey. Holywell Ferry Road is under water, so no access on foot or by bicycle to Fen Drayton Reserve bus stop. The 'brick thing' mentioned by Kevin is now completely under water.
ReplyDeleteWell today was a challenge to say the least, took the low road, but its almost a foot under water, so got my feet well and truly wet, but still able to cycle through. Then Fen Drayton, near the pub the road had vanished under water as well.
ReplyDeleteComing back against a very strong wind, the water had not really receded, so wet feet again but at least I could leave early and it was more daylight.
I can't imagine how bad the bus way track must be, but I think Boxing day I may take a walk out there and have a look.
There is a fine line between walking along the banking of the bus way, and taking the diversion along the low road, time wise I don't think there is much in it, but the bus way is safer. Thursday I may take the bus way and just walk those bits....
Merry Christmas to you all, lets hope for a drier 2013 !
Tried to cycle down there yesterday, the level of flooding is truly shocking. All 5 dip sections completely under water along with all the other shallow bits as well. At least 80% is under water.
ReplyDeleteThe concrete bridge thing is gone, as are the fence posts. So back on the Low Road which is only a foot deep.
This is going to take weeks to clear.
Thanks, Kevin. I went to Cambridge on the bus today so I saw how bad it is. I thought the water might have gone down a few inches judging by the tidemarks of driftwood. However, here at St Ives, the water level has only gone down about a couple of inches - not enough to make much of a difference.
DeleteJust checked back through my blog. The cycle track closed 23rd November when the flooding started, and then reopened 16th December. It flooded again on 21st December. So that's 31 days so far, I reckon.
DeleteWell the Low Road was still closed this am, but easily passable, with very little flooding. Came back via GBW as I wanted to see it in the light.
ReplyDeleteFlooding is still extensive, with only one dip, the little one just before the left turn off to Fen Drayton being clear, all the rest are still completely impassable. If your coming from Swavesey to St Ives the first 2 dips are starting to recede, but the third is still a lake, with the fence posts just visible.
At the start of each section the amount of debris that has washed down is incredible, all the green rolled plastic things that protect the trees have all floated to the end, and one section looks like the end of a dam !
The debris on the section where the water has completely receded, covers the entire section and up near the concrete bridge an entire half of tree has floated down to the track, must be at least a foot wide and 8 feet long. The concrete bridge is now free from water but covered entirely in debris of sticks and twigs and branches.
All in all, a complete mess. It needs a complete clean up, but I doubt that's going to happen, as the section from Swavesey to Longstanton where those workmen were is still full of mud all over it.
But I saw on the weather today that the next 3-4 weeks will be rain free, but I don't think it will have drained away that quick though...
So I leave 2012 in the rain on the bike, exactly how it started, happy new year to all, lets hope for a drier 2012 !
Thanks, Kevin. It sounds pretty dire.
ReplyDeleteGuys, don't Cycle the busway when flooded, its not good for your bike or your safety. Yes low road floods too, but if your going to Cambridge, go via Hilton, trust me its not slower than battling through floods water.
ReplyDeleteWhen St ives to Fen Drayton end goes down, turn off at nature reserve and head to Swavsey that way.
I'm lucky, I can train on the home trainer, and avoided cycling out of my way on a work day. But when its flooded and I want Cycle Cycle knowing its flooded, I go via Hilton or Papworth. Church lanes Hilton flooded as well this time.
If you see me say hi, I'm on the White Scott Foil40. In Team Sky gear.
Thanks for the advice, James. What route do you go after Hilton or Papworth?
ReplyDeleteIf I can't go low road, I go up Elsworth way, either, coming back to Swavsey or carry on up to Bourne Toft. Bit of a detour but once off the main road at Hilton or just before Papworth, a very pleased ride.
ReplyDelete