Boston Barrier flood gate fully operational Major milestone gives the town winter-ready flood protection From: 16 December 2020 The Boston Barrier gate can be raised in just 20 minutes, increasing the level of flood protection to over 13,000 homes and businesses in the town. The Boston Barrier gate is now fully ready and working to give an enhanced level of flood protection to over 13,000 homes and businesses in the town. As the centrepiece of the flood scheme, the barrier gate can be raised in just 20 minutes, responding quickly to threats of North Sea tidal surges. With the whole of the £100m Environment Agency scheme now two-thirds complete, the project will provide Boston with one of the best standards of flood defence outside of London. Once the scheme is fully completed in 2022, flood risk to over 14,000 homes and 800 businesses will be greatly reduced and allow for the effects of climate change for the next 100 years.