2-WEEK CLOSURE AS BINSTEAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO RESUME IN APRIL

Residents and road users in Binstead are reminded that Island Roads will return to complete its highway improvement work on the main road next month.

The work, which will improve the section between Stonepitts Close and Gwydyr Close, will be the last planned major highway improvement project Island Roads will be undertaking on the main road network before scaling back operations over the tourism season.

The project follows work earlier this year to improve another section of the main road between Ringwood Road and Stonepitts Close.

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The next phase – which will begin on 13th April for 2 weeks – was scheduled to take place after the current Southern Water work on Elenors Grove as carrying out both projects simultaneously would have had a far greater impact on the available diversion routes.

The works at Quarr have now been completed, a whole month earlier than anticipated. But Island Roads has not been able to bring its works forward.

In planning the next phase of the work, Island Roads has, however, liaised with Southern Gas Networks to coordinate work by both organisations on the main road under one closure, as previously reported by Island Echo.

As the project involves deeper than usual excavations to address the underlying conditions that have seen the highway deteriorate in this location, a full 24-hour road closures will be required for the duration of work. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and access to properties will be maintained as long as it is safe to do so.

Buses will be able to use the Binstead Estate to bypass the work, but as the estate roads are not designed for large volumes of traffic, motorists are advised to use the official diversion, which is via Wootton, Briddlesford Road, The Downs, Brading and Beaper Shute into Ryde.

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An Island Roads spokesperson has said:

“Road users and residents will hopefully have seen the benefit of the first phase of this Binstead work. The forthcoming work will bring similar improvements and by strengthening the road’s foundations we hope to reduce the need for future maintenance on this very busy section.

“We are very aware that residents and road users have been living with roadworks between Wootton and Binstead for a number of weeks now and we would like to thank them for their support and understanding. Following this project, we will be scaling back our planned maintenance work on the main roads for the summer season which we imagine will also come as good news for residents and businesses given the recent amount of activity by ourselves and utility companies.”