St John’s Road in Wroxall will be fully re-opened by the end of today (Wednesday), the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed.
Temporary traffic lights have been in operation since November last year when a landslip sent tonnes of debris into the highway.
As is standard in such incidents, the soil could not be moved until a survey established ground conditions as it is possible the fallen material was supporting the bank behind meaning its removal could cause further movement.
However, following a study commissioned by the Isle of Wight Council, steps have been taken to stabilise the bank and the spoil has now been removed.
The steps include creating a temporary retaining wall from concrete-filled hessian bags to support the slope and also placing a protective matting over the area to prevent more debris spilling onto the highway.
Design works continue to identify a permanent solution which will require further traffic restrictions, when introduced in the future.
The community will be informed of these plans and factors such as the need to reduce disruption, particularly when the road is at its busiest, will be considered during this process.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said:
“We are pleased to be making headway with this project and I am sure the local community will be pleased that we have been able to remove the traffic lights and fully re-open this key rote into Wroxall as a first step.
“We’d like to thank the community for their understanding and co-operation over the past few months and also the local member Cllr Rodney Downer who has taken a great interest in finding a solution.
“We will of course continue to monitor the embankment and should additional ground movement occur, there may be a need for temporary traffic measures to be reintroduced.”
Great … now move in Wightfibre and southern water get those cones and diggers out
Fantastic that such a high-tech solution was found so quickly. Hats off to the great minds on the council. Who would have thought that some shovels and hessian bags filled with concrete could have solved this incredibly taxing problem. Maybe they could tackle poverty and climate change next.
Yet YOU were criticising ivy for her wiser suggestion of Gabion Cages, stating that they were ‘unsightly’
Well this is hardly attractive.
And as ivy said, Gabion Cages blend in with the surrounding over time, this looks what it is a cheap, ugly and temporary fix.
Come back ivy and get a job on the council or island roads
Indeed, Ivy for Prime Minister. Bound to win with here “Gabion Cages Solve Everything” policy. Until the rats move in of course. Rats love gabion cages.
If its like anything else the council do this temporary fix probably means permanent.
Four months to get to this, why do we have to put up with such rubbish, waste soil could have been shoveled away and a couple of boards hammered in to stop any further falls, its portrayed as a major operation!! absolute waste of time and money,
I wonder if it would have still taken four months to get the survey result and the road reopened if the council were charged by the minute for obstructing or closing a road?
Unfortunately that will never happen so we’re stuck with consideration for road users at the bottom of the pile way behind convenience and cost cutting.
And it took this long because….?
If you ask me, looks more like a cheap solution to a simple problem. Just put some piles in and a proper retaining wall, no more than £10,000 but knowing the council and island roads they will say £500,000 at least
Gabion cages filled with suitable rocks would both hold up the bank, allow water to seep through and look really nice as plants blend in with them.
Cheap easy, and effective
Hence the council never used them.
We have them outside our property on the way into Godshill and they look fine.
As I said from day one, gabion cages would have sorted this problem out quickly, cheaply and effectively.
Any fool could understand that loose wet mud which had slid down into the road could NOT be holding up the bank, so it could have easily been removed and gabion cages ready filled slid into its place which would add to support of the rest of the bank.
Too late now, so put up with the temp, likely to be permanent eyesore of some tatty, ugly sand bags and thank the council fools for not adopting gabion cages.
Maybe you should go live in a gabion cage. Preferably one without internet access, so you will stop bleating on about gabion cages, gabion cages, gabion cages, …
Rats love gabion baskets. Great breeding grounds for rats, with easy access and hard to remove them once they are in and established. Pest controllers call them “rat hotels”.
Another reason why this Council needs investigation, how much did lights cost ( hire) fraudulently claiming from land owner insurance, disruption to busses and other vehicles. This temp solution could of been done next day. There was no reason to leave so long other than lots of money passing hand’s. No wonder our roads are so bad that those in place to look after and maintain don’t have a clue!.
its just a temporary wall?wth
Is that all they could afford, a few bags of readymix and some astroturf? And it took them all this time.
Amazing how much time it takes the council to work out a simple proble using staff with letters after their name. I only have gce’s but I could have told them what the problem was, the bank is too steep.
Einstein, take a bow.