The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed that Leeson Road in Ventnor will once again be closed in both directions from Sunday 8th September, but could re-open by the end of the year. It was in December last year that a major landslide hit the Bonchurch area, leading to concerns for the safety of road users travelling along the A3055. The road remained closed to all traffic – and pedestrians – until 17th July when the decision was taken to temporarily open the road for the Summer holidays. It was previously advised that the A-road connecting Shanklin and Ventnor would close again on Sunday 8th September at 22:00 – which the local authority has now confirmed is still the case. Over the past 6 weeks or so there has been a traffic management operative on site 24 hours a day. The workers have been keeping an eye on the situation, taking measurements and ensuring the safety of all road users. Thankfully, as many predicted, there have been no incidents and no changes to the risk levels. 
This forthcoming closure is to allow the drilling of 3x 85m boreholes – thought to be the deepest ever sunk on the Island at around 110m deep. These will allow Island Roads to understand the nature of the underlying geology in the area and also allow the additional monitoring equipment to be installed deep underground – something which should have taken place months ago. An early warning system is being developed that will allow the road to re-open without the need for traffic management, but with the safety net of an automatic road closure if movement is detected Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, has said:
“While all this information will help our long-term understanding of both Leeson Road and the wider area, it will also give us the short-term information necessary to install the early warning system that will allow us to re-open Leeson Road without ongoing traffic management.”
Michelle Love, service director for highways and community protection, adds:
“We know how important it is to keep Leeson Road open and that has always been the aim. “What we have needed is the accurate real-time data for us to be able to do that safely. These boreholes – and the equipment that will be installed within them – will give us the information we need. “Naturally we cannot give any guarantees until the latest data can be analysed but we are hopeful this work will prove a crucial step in the safe re-opening of Leeson Road.”
The Isle of Wight Council says it aims to have Leeson Road re-opened by December, paving the way for a positive start to 2025.
I’ve heard that The Graben is closing after the schools go back, for up to 8 weeks great timing as usual!
Typical the Coucil/lsland roads don’t give a rats arse about the residents and businesses of Ventnor. We have the opportunity to trade till the end of October. How long dose it take to bore a bloody hole for gods sake
I asked for Compensation or a grant from a pot like Covid to the leader of the Council, got a stock answer we know Ventnor has had it hard for the last 2 years . But clearly he didn’t read my email
Just shows clear contemp to businesses and residents of the Island. It’s a cas of I’m all right Jack!!
I doubt once closed they will ever re-open the Road again
It’s the Undercliff all over again.
So if like now with the accident on the Wroxall rd, blocked in both directions, go via Whitwell- Godshill to get to Shanklin, great. Stop wasting time and get on and build another road inland through the downs and re join further along.
Don’t be so pathetic think about what you are saying. Moron.