It was 10 weeks ago on Monday that the works to replace a stone wall on Queens Road in Ryde got underway, bringing about significant traffic congestion. But it looks as though the re-opening of the road is still a long way off with it now confirmed that Southern Water is to move in to complete their own works at the start of next week.
As previously reported by Island Echo, work along a 40-metre section of a retaining wall meant that Queen’s Road was made one-way, forcing traffic leaving Ryde to divert via Argyll Street for the duration of the works.
A spanner was thrown into the works when, on 11th August, concrete was allegedly and inadvertently poured into a sewer on the road. This faux-pas caused the closure of the road in the other direction with the road completely closed for a week in the height of summer.
It was reported that during that incident, approximately 17 properties in the surrounding area had to manually pump their sewage away. It is unknown whether the upcoming Southern Water works are a result of this incident.
It has now been confirmed to Island Echo that the road is set to maintain its 1-way closure for at least another 3 weeks, up to 28th October to allow Southern Water to maintain its infrastructure at the site.
Island Roads are set to finish next Thursday (13th October) allowing the water company to then take over.
Those heading to school at Ryde Academy or Ryde School and the surrounding primary schools or even those heading to work have faced traffic back-ups as far as Binstead Hill at peak morning and evening rush hour times, and as for those living in and amongst the works, when is the building and the drilling meant to stop?
An Island Roads spokesperson has told Island Echo:
“This was necessary work required to maintain the integrity of the highway and footway in Queen’s Road but we know that the temporary traffic arrangements in place to allow our crews to work as quickly and as safely as possible did cause some local inconvenience.
“We’d like to publicly thank road users, and in particular the residents of Queens Road, for their understanding and support during our work.”
Then to ensure disruption continues in this area. Island roads will have roadworks/ traffic lights on Binstead Road to Queens Road, from 8 November to 12 December.
Appears if true they are incompetent buffoons.
All was needed was gabion cages to fill from the stone of the old wall, cheap, no CO2, no taking away lorry loads of rubble.
We will pay for this and their masters the IW council mess up over trying to sue the Ocean Hotel wrongfully
Lucky we are all so wealthy now ……………Aren’t we?
Also seems an awful lot of clearly non local faces appearing in Island towns recently.
Have the council been paid to take in sea faring one way traffic people?
Unsure if the council are paid to take in such, but I know that the adoption service is so desperate to take in the scores of unwanted children that are mostly NON British, so another huge cost to us, from this open door policy and do nothing about such beings filling and ruining the lives of indigenous people in so very many ways.
Disgusting what MP’s and PM’s have done to this once great nation.
IF a 3rd world war happens, I bet most of these will have ever reason not to go, religious, mental health and God knows they will be more of a danger to society and those left behind than the enemy.
if it is so easy why did you not tell them and save us all this time and money.
Island roads has so many managers, but when it comes to making a statement they remain anonymous. A manager should lead from the front, not let the front line staff take the flack
there is no such thing as bad troops
only bad leaders
To be followed by British Gas, Southern Electricity, resurfacing of the road (6 weeks), then new pavements (6 weeks also, possibly) and finally Wight Fibre for an unknown time. Well done all, keep it blocked up.
For Christ’s sake change the traffic lights sequence, on the junction with Pellhurst Road then. They don’t need to go red unless a pedestrian presses the button on the crossing. And, while island roads are at it, tell Clancy to shorten the time the lights are green on Fairlee Road too. That’s why traffic is queueing back to coppins bridge, it’s not rocket science!
Why couldn’t Southern Water work at the same time as Island Roads?
It’s been over 10 weeks now! How long does it take to build a wall? I’m sure many contractors would’ve had that done within a couple of weeks. The road is not affected, just the pavement so why has it been allowed to be closed all this time. I hope whoever’s wall it is is paying for this lengthy and unnecessary road closure.
I travelled to Yarmouth yesterday and had to endure 6 sets of traffic lights due to roadworks.I don’t know whether Island Roads or the IW Council are responsible for the management but, in my opinion, it is an utter disgrace.
10 weeks to repair a stone wall unbelievable ,in other countries it would have long been finished , companies get fined if they exceed the date . Cut the long tea breaks out and fag/mobile phone breaks and work a proper working day that’ll solve it. The whole island is utter chaos at the moment, they surely know how to work together. And now southern water are moving in. Let’s see how long it takes them.
There’s no incentive to do it quickly is there. No competition, no fines, no real pressure from the council. Cushty.
Hopefully not as long as it tok them to sort out the mess at Appley
I know this may sound silly, but does anyone on the Island know what they are doing when it comes to Road Repairs.
Water issues seems to be a common problem on the Island,
yet they keep building more properties.
They worked quickly what a joke 10 weeks to build a wall should have been done in 3 at the most there hardly ever there.They like to waste money on this island .Bet the government will give them more to waste