As the Island prepares to welcome thousands of festival revellers, the official Isle of Wight Festival 2019 traffic plan has been released.
The Isle of Wight Council, Island Roads and Hampshire Constabulary are once again working closely with the organisers of this year’s festival to ensure traffic flows smoothly and disruption is kept to a minimum for the world-famous event.
The council and partner agencies have approved the traffic management plans submitted by the event organisers, covering areas such as event car parks, separating Red Funnel and Wightlink traffic and measures to ensure close co-ordination between partners. A different traffic management company is being used for 2019.
The plan is designed to ensure disruption to local traffic is kept to a minimum, although some delays are inevitable with the increased levels of traffic on the roads.
The main route for festival traffic from the Red Funnel terminal at East Cowes will be up York Avenue and along Whippingham Road where it will turn right onto East Cowes Road and into the festival car park. Festival-bound vehicles travelling from the Wightlink terminal at Fishbourne will be directed to the right on to Kite Hill, through Wootton, down Lushington Hill and right at the Racecourse roundabout and then left onto East Cowes Road and into the festival car park.
The replacement bridge at the Sea Street entrance to Newport Quay will be in place prior to the commencement of the festival. People requiring access to the quay in vehicles will be required to use the bridge and avoid going through Seaclose Park. There will be restricted public access through Seaclose from Wednesday 12th June.
If any of the entrances to the car parks are temporarily blocked, or an incident occurs on any of the roads being used by festival traffic, there are a number of diversion options where festival traffic can be temporarily ‘stacked’ away from the main roads and released into the network once the problem has been resolved.
Residents will be kept up to date with routine traffic information, details of road closures and diversions, and updates about those council services affected by the festival. Hampshire Constabulary will provide security and safety updates. Messages will be shared via social media and local media – including Island Echo.
The council would like to remind people that the one-way system along Fairlee Road, Newport will be put in place from lunchtime on Wednesday 12th June. All outbound traffic from Newport will be directed up Staplers Road.
Councillor Ian Ward, cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said:
“Once again, on behalf of the council, I would like to welcome festival goers to our beautiful Island. As usual, there has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes to ensure that this year’s festival runs smoothly and has the least amount of disruption for residents.
“Of course, I would highlight that Newport is still open for business throughout the duration of the festival and would encourage members of the public and visitors alike, to continue to support local shops and other businesses during the event.”
Residents meanwhile are encouraged to look at the dedicated festival pages on www.iwight.com, which contain important information about the road closures and diversions, including access to Seaclose Park and changes to council services, as information becomes available. You can see the traffic plan at and other festival information at https://www.iow.gov.uk/Council/OtherServices/Events-Isle-of-Wight-Music-Festival/Travel-Information/.
The council asks that residents plan their routes carefully to avoid the designated festival traffic routes on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Monday of the event – when traffic volumes will be their highest.
I see that there is only one carpark entrance this year at Queens Brick yard. Alverstone Cross is going to be a real choke point. At least that idiotic idea of sending traffic from East Cowes up to the Racecourse roundabout and back is longer being used.
So when does Fairlee become two way again ???