Major improvements to New Road in Brading, which will cause significant travel disruption for the next 4 weeks, will begin today (Monday).
The work will see large sections of New Road improved between Marshcombe Shute and the High Street in up to 4 weeks of work.
The project requires deeper than usual excavations to address underlying issues that have led to deterioration of the highway. As part of these works, one crew will be operating under a full road closure between Marshcombe Shute and Wrax Road. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout, and while the road will not be open as a through route in this section, residents’ access will be maintained where it is safe to do so.
To shorten the duration of the scheme, a second crew will be working between Station Gardens and High Street under 24hr temporary traffic signals, allowing traffic to pass through this area under managed control while the works are carried out. The work will also be split into phases to minimise disruption and 2 crews will be to shorten the duration.
The project is being undertaken at this time of year to avoid work on a major strategic route during the main tourism season.
An Island Roads spokesperson said:
“We realise we are undertaking this work at a time when there is a lot of other activity on the network including that by utility companies. This will unfortunately mean there is an extended diversion for HGVs due to Southern Water one-way restriction on Elenors Grove, Wootton.
“But our work to maintain a safe, good quality network is ongoing and to do that we have to use the winter months to make improvements. The work in New Road is urgently needed and not doing a comprehensive upgrade now runs the risk of us having to make a series of temporary fixes under emergency closures throughout the summer which would bring uncertainty and inconvenience.
Article continues below this advertisement “We do however recognise that the New Road work will create an additional inconvenience, particularly for HGV vehicles and we thank motorists in advance for their understanding and co-operation in the coming weeks.”
Island Roads has looked at a variety of other diversion options, including the use of The Mall but none are considered safe. The additional diversion route for HGVs (on top of the Elenors Grove diversion) is approximately 5 miles via Marshcombe Shute, Sandown Road, Steyne Road, Foreland Road, Church Road, Embankment Road, Station Road and Carpenters Road.
Island Roads have been informed by Southern Vectis that they will be diverting the Number 2 and Number 3 bus service via the diversion route through St Helens and Bembridge.
Sounds like they could have done a worse job of reducing disruption but this is still not adequate or acceptable.
Four weeks of major disruption, especially with significant concurrent conflicting works underway justifies major mitigation efforts – 24 hour working, external specialists resources and, above all, major public consultation and transparency.
None of this has happened.
Instead they just tell us to accept the chaos and disruption they know this will cause.
There doesn’t even seem to be a valid publicised plan for emergency services.
Local and island councillors – what have you got to say to all the people you are letting down?
This is a residential area, I don’t think people living there would appreciate 24 hour working.
They have put the island in Lockdown.
I have resorted to riding my bike.
The only way you can maintain it safe is by doing it properly it the first place and using materials that will last .
And what a time to do it
, half of the island with road closures and hslf waterlogged.
Well done , enough said. This island needs to employ an experienced road maintenance company, island roads are such a laughing stock it’s unbelievable
ye why not rest of island in a total shitshow.