There is continued misery for motorists as Island Roads confirms temporary traffic lights at Downend are to remain in place for at least another 3 weeks, with hopes of getting the junction back up and running before Easter. It was on the night of 9th January, into the morning of 10th January, when a vehicle crashed at the junction of Downend Road and Mersley Downs. This caused significant damage to the traffic lights and the electrical supply cabinet nearby. The driver failed to stop. Island Roads put 3-way temporary traffic lights in place soon after and they have remained in situ since – 6 weeks and counting. On Wednesday morning the traffic lights became stuck on red – for at least the second time – resulting in significant delays in all directions. Now, with questions growing over what is taking so long and the busy Easter period fast approaching, Island Echo has sought clarification from the PFI contractor as to the current situation. A spokesperson for Island Roads has said:
“Both the system that controls the sequencing of the Downend lights and also the unit that supplies power to the site were both damaged beyond repair by a hit and run accident. “The collision was clearly a significant one that could have put lives at risk as well as causing subsequent inconvenience to the many motorists who use this busy junction. “We are pleased to say that we have restored the power supply to this location and the specialist teams are scheduled to visit on March 11 and 12 to replace the controller so the permanent lights can be brought back into use well ahead of Easter. “The work could not be done sooner as we have had to wait on the arrival of specialist parts and also the availability of crews to make this repair”.
I have a feeling part of the Robin Hill grounds will be sold off for houses along with an alternative route bypassing this junction, brown envelopes are afoot, no way Island roads are this incapable of replacing some traffic lights, they get knocked down all the timd on the mainland, but it doesnt take 7 weeks to replace.
Zero chance of building on the Robin Hill site. The owner would obviously have built already if that was an option. It is a greenfield site.
Get a mainland firm over.
Job will be finished in less than half the time.
That is the problem when you employ cowboys
Yee-haw
Yes, or when you pay peanuts you get monkeys – sick joke that they’re not actually paid in peanuts though!
Pathetic, island roads are useless. All they do is come up with excuses, for why the job is taking so long !!!
Island roads acting like they’re heroes yet again. Where would we be without them…
Moving a lot faster and smoother in our vehicles!
More than likely ran out of money
Along with Briddlesford being closed and the work there not being touched AT ALL it’s a nightmare for anyone commuting. Council brag about going more eco friendly but instead make our carbon footprint increase by not pushing these works to be completed quicker. More cars detouring, more fuel emissions in gridlock queues and drivers on the roads longer. Disgraceful.
Why is it we can’t seem to get anything done with any efficiency any more?
We’ve got ferries being delayed and cancelled every week, the ongoing floating bridge fiasco, trains only running intermittently, road works and road closures seemingly everywhere you go, Wightfibre digging up every other road on the Island, roads being flooded and closed every time it rains, and traffic lights which can’t be fixed for months.
Why can’t we get stuff done any more? Is it just an Island thing, because I really can’t see an area on the mainland putting up with this constant disruption?
About time our Bobbie’s started directing traffic again.
What 24/7, dont be so bloody ridiculous.
But remember save the planet cut global warming oh hang on let’s take 2 months to fix a set of traffic lights causing miles of tailbacks and cars sat idling
Since the temporary lights have been there the queues up from Arreton have been less, hope they leave the cycle as it is.
Stuck on red again this afternoon. Island roads are an absolute shambles, they seem to think they are here for their own benefit, not to provide a service for Island residents. Take the f@*king temporary lights away. It works fine without them. The new control box was installed about a week and a half ago. Perhaps they could train someone up to set the sequencing, but…….
If this happened in a city, such as London, it wouldn’t have taken this long; in fact about an hour!
Did you know that when it was discovered that Island Roads had not fulfilled the original PFI contract terms our council (rightly) withheld payments until they do. Did you also know that the erection of traffic lights is an add-on to the base contract payments? Does anyone then wonder WHY we have so many long term traffic lights? Cos when Island Roads deem them necessary the contract says we can’t argue with their decision and have to pay extra! They ain’t cheap either…..