On the scene as Queens Drive reopens with flood sensors and upgrades after death of couple
Queens Drive has fully reopened following work to improve drainage infrastructure and install a flood warning system. The road has been closed since last August when Elaine and Philip Marco tragically died after their car became submerged in flood water. Since then substantial work has been undertaken.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 A road closed for more than five months after flooding that led to the death of a couple
00:06 has now reopened. Elaine and Philip Marco, aged 75 and 77, died after their car became
00:12 submerged by floodwater in a section of Queen's Drive in Mossley Hill in August 2022. The
00:17 reopening comes months after work around the bridge above where their car was stuck.
00:22 It's five and a half months since the tragedy happened. We must never forget why all the
00:26 work's been done. But yes, it was great to see it reopening. Within three seconds of
00:33 us taking the barriers down, the first car went through. The Marcos, who were well-respected
00:40 members of the city's Jewish community, were described as a quiet and humble couple who
00:46 were very dedicated and devoted grandparents. Ever since the tragic death of the couple,
00:53 the road has been shut between its junctions with North Mossley Hill Road and Dovedale
00:58 Road. This has caused a real problem throughout south Liverpool, particularly for the Penny
01:04 Lane Ward. We've had real problems on Rose Lane and Penny Lane, Briardale Road, Dovedale
01:10 Road, cars finding a way through because there is a lot of legitimate traffic going to Liverpool
01:17 College, wanting to go to the park, wanting to go from Queen's Drive and the motorway.
01:22 So yes, it's been a major problem. But as you can hear, people are delighted that it's
01:27 now reopened. In a bid to prevent such an occurrence happening again, a series of upgrades
01:33 have now been installed around the road, including barriers and flood sensors. Residents have
01:40 been very patient in the five and a half months. I pay tribute to my local residents, but also
01:46 many of the people who do come through this area and need to on a regular basis and have
01:52 had much longer journeys. In response to the couple's death, Liverpool Council has overseen
01:59 a period of work, including replacement of gullies, repairs to the carriageway, including
02:05 pothole maintenance and upgraded street lighting. As well as measuring water levels, the new
02:11 sensors will provide long term data, which will show how quickly or slowly water is getting
02:17 through. This data will also aid information for future maintenance works. I think we've
02:24 got to look at several things now. I've never seen rain like this before. It was absolutely
02:31 torrential. It was causing all sorts of problems, not only here, incidentally, but right the
02:37 way around Queen's Drive. So what's climate change going to do to our infrastructure?
02:43 What are car manufacturers going to do about car design? An inquest into the pair's death
02:49 will take place later this month. Coroner Andre Rubello has previously said that there
02:54 are crucial questions to ask of several authorities about the incident that unfolded last summer.
03:01 (car engine roaring)