A scheme to install 80 metres of new drainage and rebuild a section of Alum Bay New Road in the West Wight will be completed at the end of this week following significant damage caused to the highway and adjacent land over the Christmas period.
Heavy rain and winds on already saturated ground had caused a substantial section of the highway and land beneath and adjacent to it, to collapse and slip away from the road. This left Island Roads with no option but to reduce this road to one lane and prevent buses travelling past the damaged area on the grounds of safety.
Jason Boulter, Graduate Drainage Engineer at Island Roads said:
“We recognised that this road is an important link to The Needles Park which is one of the largest attractions on the Island. We therefore worked extremely hard to obtain all the necessary consents required to work in this environmentally sensitive area as quickly as possible to ensure we could complete these works ahead of the main tourist season.
“We thank all the staff at The Needles Park and residents in the area for their cooperation whilst we carried out these essential repairs.”
Marino Zanti, Manager of The Needles Park said:
“I was really impressed with the speed at which Island Roads repaired this section of road which is critical to our business.
“The team has worked closely with us throughout the works to ensure we were well informed and that disruption to our access was kept to an absolute minimum. We’re delighted that this road has now been opened up to two-way traffic and that buses can continue on their route into our park.”
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Photographed L-R: Local supply chain partner John Peck Construction’s employees Ken Adams and James Benfield, The Needles Park Manager Marino Zanti and Island Roads Graduate drainage engineer Jason Boulter.
