Drivers on the Isle of Wight are being warned to brace for major disruption, as Southern Water prepares to fully close Newport Road in Lake for 9 days.
The busy main road between Newport and Sandown – outside Sandown Airport – is to shut completely in both directions between Monday 1st June and Tuesday 9th June 2026 as part of ongoing water mains improvement works.
Motorists have already had to put up with significant disruption since March, with 2-way temporary traffic lights in operation.
Now, things are set to get even worse as Southern Water prepares to implement a road closure to safely access existing pipework.
The announcement is likely to frustrate motorists who have already faced months of delays caused by temporary traffic lights along the route, as well as closures elsewhere on the Island. Today alone, for example, both Sandy Lane and Canteen Road – situated either side of Newport Road – are closed for roadworks.
With the closure scheduled for the beginning of June – when traffic levels typically rise due to warmer weather and increasing visitor numbers – fears are mounting over knock-on delays on diversion routes and nearby roads.
Motorists are being advised to allow extra time for journeys.
Its too much, Islanders should get a refund on their VED (Road Tax) because we have been denied the use of so many roads of late that its getting beyond a joke!
Road tax doesn’t exist. It’s emissions tax so not sure how your idea works
This is not true as zero-emission EV’s still have to pay VED (car tax) for the road maintenance
I thought someone would say that. Whatever you choose to call it, you are not allowed to put your car on the road unless you pay that tax therefore is it not reasonable to expect to be able to use the roads?
What about all the numpties driving around with
NO MOT.
It does exist, you pay your road tax weather you have emissions or not, the emissions part of it was a con just to get more road tax.
Think yourself lucky you don’t have to pay congestion and
ULEZ charges.
It keeps the tourists away and we can blame the ferries.
Surely, if Southern Water worked overnight, these road closures wouldn’t last so long. I guess SW don’t want to dip into their profits of £39million by paying overtime or night rates.
S.Water have probably done this as revenge for Drew and his “threat” of legal action.
Whelan needs to address the road closures and put Knocka in charge as Chairman.
The island has just about had it with Island Turds, Wight Fibre/ex-Cable and the Water polluters digging up the roads as and when they choose.
Yet everyone says that the “contract” that Pugh and Brown signed up for is going to bankrupt the island if it is allowed to run its course until 2038.
Get a grip if these schmucks now!
Our local councillor promised on his campaign literature to look at the chaos caused by Island roads. Will watch this website for an update on his progress.
Said this before but you don’t have to close the road both ways. A traffic light system is best. Still means loads of traffic but the dumb idea of just a bus lane or complete closure isn’t needed.