Island Roads is resuming its highways improvement activity from tomorrow, including on the main road between Ryde and Newport at Binstead – but work at New Road, Brading has been pushed back until October.
Improvement work on Binstead Hill, Binstead; Albert Road and Victoria Road in Sandown; Rectory Road in Niton; Chale Street in Chale; Church Hill in Totland and Freshwater Road in Shalfleet is all scheduled to be carried out from this month.
Island Roads is continuing its improvement programme throughout the winter months so as to minimise activity in the busier Spring and Summer period.
The January projects are part of an extensive programme of work to upgrade sections of the carriageway that have deteriorated because of underlying ground conditions. The work will therefore involve deeper excavations and road reconstruction ahead of resurfacing meaning full road closures will be required at each location for safety reasons and to ensure the work can be completed as soon as possible.
Starting tomorrow (Thursday) is work on Binstead Hill which will be closed for one day only between the hours of 09:30 and 16:00. On the same day, work also begins on Church Hill, Totland between Madeira Road and York Road. This is expected to last up to 22 working days.
Then work in Chale Street, the section from Newman Lane northwards is due to start on 6th January and last 5 days. Also starting that day is work on Freshwater Road, Shalfleet between Dodpitts Lane and Broad Lane which is expected to last 6 working days.
Improvements will be made to Albert Road, Sandown between the High Street and Victoria Road and then in Victoria Road between Albert Road and the High Street, will take place over 21 working days starting on 13th January.
Also due to start on 14th January, over 3 working days, is work on Rectory Road, Niton Chale, between the High Street and Town End.
While each of the roads in the January programme will be closed as through routes, access to residents will be maintained as long as it is safe to do so. Information boards will be put out at each location prior to work starting and affected residents will also receive letters explaining more about the projects.
An Island Roads spokesperson said:
“It will be a busy start to the New Year as we continue to improve the network to ensure it is maintained in a good, safe, condition.
“Naturally there will be some inconvenience given that the deeper nature of the excavations mean full 24-hour road closures will be necessary. But fixing the underlying issues that have led to surface deterioration should mean less maintenance will be required in the future.
“We can assure residents that, though the winter months are not ideal for this type of work as inclement weather can prolong schemes, we will be working hard to complete all the projects as soon as possible and we would like to thank residents in advance for their co-operation and understanding.”
Work to resurface parts of a road already resurfaced under the PFI contract – New Road in Brading – was due to begin also, but it has been confirmed that the scheme has been pushed back until October 2025.
Their description of the works sounds good but all it will be is patches which will break down in months, Island Roads are screwing us with substandard works and total neglect.
The problem is the majority of their operatives
don’t know what they are doing, hence shoddy
workmanship.
Majority of them couldn’t undo a can of coke between them.
The private run Companies wouldn’t employ them.
Island Roads take anyone on.
From what I see on a daily basis, they spend more time
sitting in their vehicles than working.
We need to take on Foreign workers to look after the Roads,
better workmanship
I love how you say improvements
IR and improvements do not go in the same sentence. Infact the just don’t go
Let’s hope in 2025 they are better educated when
placing signage. I find their signage so confusing.
That’s because you’re thick
Great news for the New Year, just read on BBC NEWS
New 20mph Zones are being considered for the
Isle of Wight.
Thank you and well done to Cllr Jordan and Karen Lucioni
for making our Roads a safer place for everyone,
It’s been long overdue.
I look forward to it coming.