The second phase of work to upgrade the traffic signals and pedestrian crossings at Coppins Bridge in Newport and its approaches has finished on schedule.
Since 22nd November, Island Roads has, on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, been working to upgrade the Coppins Bridge/Barton Road pedestrian crossing and signals. This follows the completion of the initial phase – improving the lights at the Coppins Bridge junction with St George’s Way.
As previously agreed and communicated, now the second phase has been completed, the project will pause so as not to affect the Christmas shopping period.
Work will resume on 10th January when the signals in Lower High Street and those between Lower High Street and Coppins Bridge itself will be upgraded. During this phase, the Lower High Street will be closed to traffic between 10th and 28th January.
Island Roads has previously visited businesses to discuss their individual needs during this phase and, based on feedback, have come up with a traffic management plan to meet the various delivery requirements of these businesses. This will be further discussed with affected businesses prior to the recommencement of work.
Pedestrian access will be maintained during this phase.
Steve Ashman, Island Roads’ service director, has said:
“Once again we would like to thank the local community for their co-operation and understanding as we progress these works.
Article continues below this advertisement “During this second phase the temporary traffic lights were manually operated so were able to make adjustments if congestion built up. However I am sure some people had their journey times extended so we are very grateful that people have been patient.
“We will now be pausing the scheme until after the Christmas and New Year holiday so as not to impact upon the Christmas trade and we will be sure to provide reminders ahead of work resuming in the Lower High Street on January 10.”
The project to upgrade signals and crossings at the Island’s busiest junction is part of work under the Highways PFI to improve and maintain the Island highway network.
The work will enable the traffic signals to better adjust their sequencing according to traffic volumes and will also make them more reliable and able to use significantly less energy because of the LED lights and the far safer low voltage (48volt) electric systems used.
They never usually worry about causing chaos I think they just want a nice long Christmas break
Is this the precursor to the complete closure of the lower high Street we were promised as the last part of the ‘bung up Newport as much as possible’ campaign?
It will be interesting to see how the dual carriageway copes with the increased flow from Dodnor Estate?
So here is a thought…as the council/highways seem to have cash sloshing about these days, and bridges seem to be taboo?
What about another bridge across the Medina? No not for the benefit of Cowes, but an extra lane at the Newport end so the traffic from Dodnor Lane can filter in and the extra lane can be used for those Ryde bound via Fairlee?
I must be drinking too much!
Maybe they want to keep away from the roads with all the Christmas drunks driving around.
Got to ask y the so called 48 v system wasn’t done in the first place , and has the 48 v system been installed at the old st Mary roundabout
Would be good if the traffic lights had cameras on them,the amount of near misses because of people jumping the lights is stupid,people know there’s no cameras and don’t care
Several locals call it stoppingsbridge for one very good reason, way too much traffic and yet the council allow more housing to be built causing more and more traffic trying to use the same amount of roads.