The next phase of work at St Mary’s Junction in Newport will help reduce congestion on Forest Road and the exit from the B&Q roundabout onto Medina Way during the final stages of the project.
The changes will come into effect from 26th October and will include the following:
• Hunnyhill will be re-opened to northbound traffic, providing access to Forest Road and Medina Way towards Cowes only. Vehicles using this route will not be able to access Dodnor Lane or turn southbound onto Medina Way.
• Both lanes on Forest Road will be open for traffic travelling eastbound (towards Newport) onto Medina Way to reduce traffic queues.
• Both lanes of the dual carriageway southbound towards Newport will be reopened, but with the left-hand lane for traffic turning onto Dodnor Lane and Riverway only.
Meanwhile, all surfacing work at the new signalised junction has been scheduled to take place overnight when the roads are much quieter to minimise disruption.
This work will be undertaken between 2nd and 26th November, between 20:00 and 05:00 each evening, requiring both full and partial closures of the junction depending on the works being undertaken.
During this time, it will be necessary to have in place different diversion routes depending on the scheduling of work, progress and weather conditions. The main diversion route is shown below:
The shorter, alternative diversion route, when it can be introduced, will be as follows:
Depending on the stage of the resurfacing work, the actual diversion route will be advised in advance on social media and signed on the approach to the works.
Councillor Ian Ward, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said:
“We hope the next phase will improve the flow of traffic through the area while we complete the works.
“We have also instructed that the surfacing work at the old roundabout is to be done overnight which I am sure is the least disruptive way of completing the project.
“We remain on programme to have the junctions fully operational on 26 November in good time for the festive shopping period.”
I wonder whether Island Roads are behind this decision or they’ve had to submit to public pressure. The original plan was to open hunnyhill northbound only to buses and to keep the current set up until late Nov. Time will tell whether it’s the right decision to complete all the works at night, it seems to be the way to go.
Suspect the headline on Oct 21, 2021 could be something similar !
So when Medina Way is closed and Hunnyhill is northbound only, how are people from Whitesmith, Albany and Worsley Roads going to get out? I think we’ll have to walk.
They could ease congestion on Medina Way nortbound by making the right hand lane the trading estates and the left hand lane Cowes and Yarmouth and remove the pointless merge in turn block.
So,the cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, “hopes”,these works will improve traffic flow. What hope do we have?
Bob Hope, or no hope!
NO HOPE, They cant even get temp lights to work. top of dual carriage way and only lane open was rt turn to dodnor, why straight ahead to cowes couldn’t remain open when no other lanes were operating is rediculous. will B & Q customers be warned the exit will close at 8pm when you could still be shopping at 8.10pm (9 hours is a long wait to exit their carpark.
It’s not just these lights, it’s virtually every set of lights on the Island.
I was caught up at this junction during my annual visit to the island. People who used the closed lane were being blocked from entering the traffic. This is understandable but irrational since using all available road space helps to avoid back-up. What we need is an alternating pattern of give and take for everyone’s benefit.
“CONGESTION TO BE EASED” ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha….. fake news.
Compared to when…. when we had a fully functioning flowing roundabout and no traffic lights…. or when the roadworks were at their worst.
Oh I remember the days before the St Marys scheme and how the traffic flowed so freely! Those were the days!
Agree 100%. Totally unnecessary works. Coppins Bridge was,is and still will be the cause of traffic back ups. This and a bridge over the river medina was discussed over and over again. The councils expert (?) solution to all this – spend millions on St Mary’s roundabout against a huge number of objections to the plans.
About time it takes on average 25 minutes to get through from B and Q to the roundabout. The pollution this must be causing!
“… in good time for the festive shopping period.”
LOL. Shopping requires shops, and there aren’t any.
Congestion to be eased…..? Why didn’t the council have this bright idea two years ago, before wasting vast amounts of money on a scheme that nobody wanted in the first place? There was no congestion when the roundabout was there, apart from a short period of time at peak periods. Now everyone will be needlessly sitting at red traffic lights at all times of the day and night. Here comes Coppins Bridge number 2! I have not come across one person who approves of this scheme, I think it’s a case that the council decided they were going to do it for whatever reason, so ploughed on with it regardless of the opinions of local people! Where ever there’s traffic lights, there is congestion, delays and hold ups….