UPDATED: TRAFFIC CHAOS IN THE BAY AS MAIN ROADS HIT BY CLOSURES AND TEMPORARY LIGHTS

Motorists travelling to and from Sandown, Lake and Shanklin are facing significant delays this afternoon (Tuesday) due to the ongoing closure of Newport Road at Apse Heath and roadworks on Victoria Avenue in Shanklin. Newport Road has been closed between Apse Heath and Sandown Airport due to a burst water main, as previously reported by Island Echo. This is putting pressure on diversionary routes in the local area. Heading into Sandown from the north, queues of traffic are forming between Broadway and the Bullring in Brading, with outbound traffic also queued up from Yarbridge to Perowne Way. In Sandown, heavier-than-usual traffic flows are causing delays at Broadway and Lake Hill, as well as through Lake High Street. Traffic is also extremely heavy going into Shanklin through Victoria Avenue due to the erection of 2-way temporary traffic lights for gas works. This is seeing motorists queued back to Upper Hyde Lane (railway bridge), with queues also forming on the High Street and North Road. Apse Manor Road has been described as gridlocked for most of the day as motorists attempt to cut out Whiteley Bank. The roundabout is particularly busy due to the closure of Leeson Road, which sees all traffic heading in and out of Ventnor travelling via Wroxall. Elsewhere on the Island, delays have been building between Ryde and Newport due to temporary traffic lights at Kite Hill, Wootton. Island Echo readers should allow extra time for their journeys this afternoon. UPDATE @ 16:44 – Newport Road – the A3056 – has re-opened in both directions.