Salt socks are being put in place on a treacherous corner near Niton in a bid to reduce the risk to motorists in icy conditions.
Water running off of nearby fields and out of gullies has resulted in a bend on Niton Road at Bierley becoming a hazard to motorists in recent weeks due to ice forming in sub-zero temperatures.
1 vehicle ended up on its roof on 7th January, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Additional measures are being taken to reduce the potential for ice and warnings signs have been erected near the junction with Ford Farm Lane.
A spokesperson for Island Roads has said:
“There have been no reported issues with drainage at this site although, in common with other rural areas, this is a location where water running off from fields and then freezing can lead to ice patches forming even after gritting.
“We will however undertake an additional inspection of gullies in this area and will undertake any necessary action to ensure they perform at an optimal level.
Article continues below this advertisement “Where run-off from fields is known to cause issues, we can and do take additional steps in freezing conditions. These include applying ‘salt socks’ which release salt onto the highway as the run-off passes over them and also increasing the amount of salt applied during gritting. Both these steps have been taken at this location.
“It should never be assumed that ice will not be present after gritting”.
Although Island Roads claim there have been no reported issues with drainage, local residents argue otherwise.
One of the drains is said to have been blocked since New Year’s Eve, as pictured below. An inspection was carried out to confirm the blockage, but as of 23rd January, no one has returned to clear the drain.
That road needs to be driven with caution anyway and it’s about to become a diversion route for the closure of the Whitwell road
I thought whitwell closure was finished now wroxall is shut.
I haven’t a clue what a ‘salt sock’ is. I hope if you hit one at speed it doesn’t cause an accident.
Run-off from fields or from gardens paved over to park yet more 4x4s?
well I live in Bierley and I pass this road most days and I strongly think that from shiny brick lane to kings gate lane needs to be either a 30mp limit ( its not 30 until further into the village ) or made a 20mp because so many cars, vans and lorrys shoot through and no matter how much you give way to them they don’t slow down ! the roads are not wide enough from shiny brick lane onwards for a Modern car and a van , lorry etc to pass safely .
And island roads seems to be making a fuss about this side of the hill ( as pictured ) yet do nothing at all about the water that lays in a huge pool and the bottom of the S bend between sibbecks farm and shiny brick lane gets just as icy yet no salt blocks , no warning signs !
salt blocks that’s a joke isn’t it ? its now the 24th and this was published on the 23rd and there’s just empty sacks now chucked on the side of the road in one area.
used to be that farmers would simply cut a ditch around fields to control runoff.
It’s not necessarily the farmers fault! There was a time when roads were quartered and drains were cleaned out!