One of the main roads in and out of Ventnor has been closed this afternoon (Friday) after a large void was found below the road surface.
The void has been found by Island Roads at the geological feature known as the Graben – near the junction where Ocean View Road, Gills Cliff Road, and Newport Road all meet.
Works were last undertaken in the area back in November 2022 when ground movement made the road surface uneven, before that extensive work was carried out back in February 2019.
A spokesperson for Island Roads has said:
“We’re currently investigating and will provide updates as we have them.
“Please avoid the area if you can”
As a result of this all traffic will have to enter Ventnor from either Whitwell or Shanklin, however traffic coming that way is already hindered by the temporary traffic lights on Church Road.
No timeframe has been given regarding how long the road will be closed.
UPDATE @ 15:13 – Island Roads say that they have made good progress with repairs and therefore the road should be fully reopened later today for the holiday weekend.
It is currently under temporary traffic lights, according to Island Echo readers.
Thought I’d be the first to say.
Gabion cages will solve all the islands problems!!
The road is open now, however, there is temporary traffic lights..
That’s what I scrolled straight down to the comments for!
This depression in the carriageway has being like it for months i pass over it twice a day 5 days a week and it has held up all this time untill lastweek when it was topped up with tarmac, most people will know that it is caused by a void as ventnor is known for this BUT why send the nippers there on a friday morning before the biggest bank holiday known to most to excavate this knowing what they will find but not being able to get the job closed due to not being able to get materials and anyone to work at the weekend it could of waited till Tuesday morning having done this kind of work for 34 yrs and many voids it could of waited 3 days!!!!!
Good idea – and have someone fall down it and injure themselves!
Is Homer Simpson back in charge of Island Roads? Never seen so many road works concentrated in such a small area of roads. Smells fishy to me.
Ventnor is on an active landslip. We will always have theses problems
……and No, I do not work for Island roads
Surely they know there’s a void under there? They’ve spent enough time digging it up over the years! Sounds like they’re surprised at what they found! oh let’s close a main road in and out of ventnor for the bank holiday! Job done
It’s land movement! You expect them to control that?
Ahh that’s were you knuckle dragging inbreds leave.In a Hole.Suppose you lot have to come out now and again…
The humour is lost in the inability to deliver… and spell… are you sure you are not the inbred one?
Why don’t they do as they suggested years ago, build a bridge over it.
Yep I remember that, but that’s IWC for you. The same as the Undercliff where they were told a good 30 years ago to take measures to lower the water table otherwise it would be lost! If it’s beyond the capabilities of the Island contractors why don’t they get a specialist company in, instead of throwing dead money at it?
That’s a road to “a void” then
A spokesman for Island roads said, ” We are looking into it ” lol.
Stuck in a hole? that’s island roads for ya