Work is to begin on 3 highway improvement schemes tomorrow (Tuesday) bringing about significant travel disruption just as Islanders return to work after the Christmas break. Island Roads says they are hitting the ground running as 2024 begins with projects at Station Road in Wootton, Eddington Road in St Helens and Carisbrooke High Street/Calbourne Road in Newport, which are all part of Island’s strategic road network. In each case, deep excavations are required to address the underlying ground conditions that have caused the highway to deteriorate in some areas. This means the sites will be closed as through roads for the duration of the work period, night and day. Work at Eddington Road is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Tuesday) and is expected to last 20 working days. Work will be done in 2 phases – between Upper Green Road and Nodes Point Holiday Park (approx. 18 days) and then between Kerry Field and St Helens Church (approx. 2 days). Work at Station Road is also scheduled to begin tomorrow and is expected to last 14 working days. Phase 1 is between Briddlesford Road and Littletown Lane (approx. 5 days) and Phase 2 between Packsfield Lane and Wootton High Street which is expected to last 9 days. Work on Carisbrooke High Street/Calbourne Road will also get underway tomorrow and be split into 2 phases, the 1st in Carisbrooke High Street between Priory Road and School Lane (2 days) and the 2nd phase in Calbourne between Betty Haunt Lane and Rowridge Lane (3 days). There will be no work at weekends but because of the deep excavations required, it will not be possible to re-open the roads during the construction periods. For reasons such as inclement winter weather and the ground conditions experienced on site, the schedules are subject to change. An Island Roads spokesman said:
“Because we seek to limit our work in the summer season so as not to impact unduly on tourism, it does mean we have to concentrate work in the remainder of the year, including during the winter. “Consequently, we will see plenty of highway improvement activity right at the start of the year. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience but it is important we continue to invest in ensuring our-most used roads are maintained in good condition.”
It is time IWC ditch the stupid tourism rule. Roadworks are cheaper and quicker in summer, Tourists are a form of pollution and need to treat them as such. Banning holiday makers bringing cars would be a start.
Tourists bring much needed money to the Island,
without tourists the island would suffer.
Upton Road Haylands is also shut from 2nd “weather permitting” for new gas mains that is also for weeks rather than days or so the signs say.
Here is a thought. How about telling road users which roads are ACTUALLY closed on the road signs?
If you were to believe The Toads ( does anyone?) Park Road Wootton was closed this morning for anyone approaching from the EC roundabout. Also Briddlesford Road was marked as Road Closed ahead from the Hare and Hounds, from Blacklands Lane and also just before the Station Road junction!
Quite clearly cars were making avoiding turns without the knowledge of what was actually closed???
So anyone being forced to drive on up Lushington Hill would no doubt have to go all round via Haven Street to get to the tip when they could actually just drive straight on! Brains of a chicken
Just keep your eyes peeled along seafronts and car parks
that is where Island Toads operatives hang out most of the
day, hence nothing gets done.
Road works at Lake this afternoon, traffic trailing back past the
Heights, when you finally get to Lake High Street, temporary lights in
place, no work being carried out.
Same old sh*t services being provided on the Island.