The main road through Havenstreet is to be closed to all traffic for a period of 4 weeks from next Tuesday, causing significant disruption for motorists just as the Summer season gets underway.
Main Road will be closed as a through road from Tuesday 9th May until Tuesday 6th June – both night and day – whilst utility works are undertaken.
The closure will be in force from the junction with Firestone Copse Road to Combley Road, although access to homes and businesses will be maintained. However, it will mean lengthy diversions via Firestone Copse Road or The Downs for those heading to or from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, depending on the direction of travel.
The official diversion will send motorists via The Downs to Downend, or the A3054 from Ryde to Wootton.
Due to the importance of the route, Island Roads has asked WightFibre to use additional resources to complete the work as soon as possible.
Matters are not being helped though as during the closure period Island Roads will be carrying out safety work on Firestone Copse Road. This means that for several hours on 1 day, during the 3-day window of Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th May, the cut-through road will be closed. Island Roads have not rescheduled the works after being alerted to this clash by Island Echo.
A spokesperson for Island Roads has said:
“WightFibre, as a utility company, has a legal right to carry out its work to improve the Island’s broadband infrastructure. We cannot prevent this work – our role is to liaise with WightFibre to minimise its impact on road users.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have therefore asked WightFibre to use additional resources so work can be completed as soon as possible. We have also asked them to open the road on Bank Holidays where practicable and to communicate details of the work to the community in advance.
“The work in Firestone Cope Road – which is not part of the signed diversion route – is necessary safety work to remedy a defect. It will take a matter of hours to complete which we will do during the advertised three-day window. The road will be closed only for the short period work is taking place.
“For more information on streetworks and how Island Roads administers applications from utility companies, please see https://islandroads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Utility-works-factsheet-web.pdf
Well what can we say?The mind boggles..
The rollout of fibre as been a complete pain in the ar*e for us Islanders.
Who needs it!
So true.
Also they are no good for the climate, nearly everyday I receive Wight Fibre
literature in the post (think of all the poor trees)
I DON’T WANT WIGHT FIBRE. I am happy with my current broadband supplier
and always will be.
Life was so much better on the Island before they started poncing around
causing everyone grief.
Will this sh*t ever end.
Well at least there’s no diversions for Southern Vectis.
I see shytefibre is causing chaos getting out of Ryde as they have closed Garfield road and the only option is via Argyll street, how much longer is this crap company going to disrupt the island.
I don’t mind as long as the brown envelopes keep flowing! We’re all good in the West Wight.
I would never use this company after the disruption and damage caused to pavements etc. Plenty of alternatives and the wightfibre salesman who cold called last week was very sneaky in his attempt to get a sale.
Wight Fibre can shove their Fibre up their ar*e the way they have caused disruption
for everyone I will never be using such a Cowboy outfit even if they offered it f.o.c
Although it’s good to see that minimising disruption has been considered by Island Roads, the key word in their statement is “asked”. They make have asked, but Wight Fibre’s contractors won’t take any notice because that would cost them money and they know that IR will cannot force them.
If you read the statement they published recently about their powers and obligations they basically say that they have no power to do anything other than slightly delay works and make polite requests. They have no enforcement powers whatsoever and very little accountability – the words “chocolate teapot” spring to mind.
Once all the Fibre is in place then islandwide Cameras will be installed.
It’s all being done ready for control.
China is an example of what is coming to everyone.