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Owing to the high water table and high rainfall, the flow in the River Itchen was exceptionally high. It threatened to flood parts of the city of Winchester. To reduce the risk of this happening, the Environment Agency decided to restrict the flow of the river upstream of the city between Easton and Abbots Worthy.

This was done by placing a large number of one tonne bags of gravel or pea shingle into the river bed, at the points where the river flowed under the M3 motorway. A few days later, similar works were carried out where the river flows beneath the A33 slip road and the A34. The aim in each case was to reduce the flow and thereby cause water to flood the fields east of the M3, and between the A34 and the M3. Landowners gave their permission for this flooding to be created.

The army carried out the work beneath the A34 using a 32 ton Terex crane. They were accompanied by officials from the Environment Agency and from Hampshire County Council. Also present were Highways Agency staff to close off a lane, and staff from URS, one of the firms that works with the EA.

See other images of River Itchen flood mitigation measures