Direct access between Newport and Ryde will be severed for thousands of motorists when a vital A-road becomes one-way in February 2026.
From 2nd February to 10th April, Elenors Grove – located between Binstead and Fishbourne – will be open only to traffic heading from Ryde towards Newport.
The restriction is part of Southern Water’s £5million mains replacement scheme, as reported by Island Echo earlier today (Tuesday).
Vehicles travelling towards Ryde will have to divert via Firestone Copse, or Briddlesford Road through Havenstreet. However, heavy goods vehicles and through traffic will be forced to take longer routes via The Downs, or loop around through Arreton, Lake, Sandown and Brading.
The A3054 serves as one of the Isle of Wight’s busiest routes, and the partial closure is expected to cause major delays in the Wootton area – particularly due to all ferry traffic turning right out of Wightlink’s Fishbourne terminal.
It is understood that Southern Vectis buses and emergency vehicles will be permitted to travel in both directions, with traffic lights in place to allow safe passage.
Southern Water says the temporary traffic system is essential to safely replace a section of cast iron mains with more durable plastic pipework. Letters are being issued to residents and businesses, and public information events will be held before the end of the year.
Nicholas Marshall, Senior Project Manager for Southern Water, has said:
“Many of the pipes that supply the Island are more than 100 years old and it’s essential they are upgraded to reduce the risk of bursts and interruption to supply.
“While we understand that road closures are never welcome, we’ve worked closely with Island Roads to minimise disruption and ensure we are able to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are grateful to customers for their support and patience as we work to future-proof the Island’s mains for years to come.”
This latest disruption follows the news that Horsebridge Hill between Cowes and Newport will be made one-way for nearly 3 months, from January 2026, as previously reported by Island Echo.
You better be making firestone cops one way for the duration as well then… it’s dangerous enough through there as it is.
Unbelievable, sure HGVs will follow that route.
HGV are already going through Firestone copse
With all the road works that take place for such long
durations, surely it would be the perfect time to
install speed cameras and speed cameras along such roads.
Kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
20mph is plenty
J.S
Enough is enough you talk a lot of dribble 20 is plenty imagine the air pollution with all these cars driving in 2 nd gear
Safety is imperative.
20mph is happening all around the country
It’s coming to the island soon
Fingers crossed
With all the road works that take place for such long
durations, surely it would be the perfect time to
install speed cameras and speed humps along such roads.
Kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
20mph is plenty
J.S
“Vehicles travelling towards Ryde will have to divert via Firestone Copse”
.. so every single vehicle travelling towards ryde, will have to give-way to, and cross, all the traffic coming from ryde, to turn into firestone copse road..
AND
will have to give way on the roundabout at the top of binstead hill (when they eventually get there) to traffic coming from ryde…
do these planners not have any brain between them,,,
talk about f’ing incompetent !!
(or perhaps its deliberately organised to cause as much disruption as possible,.. to take people’s focus away from other issues…
just like Reform do with all their talk about immigrants,.. so people don’t realise the disasterous negative magnitude of their other policies )
Exactly right. The fools responsible for that decision need to be sacked immediately. Anyone with common sense can see that the flow must be reversed, so that there isn’t a conflict on Kite Hill.
They haven’t a fucking clue so 2 massive road disruptions for 2/3 fucking months..
There are too many vehicles on this small island.
I read recently that some Councils around the country
are getting wise to large vehicles and will be charging
more parkinfg charges and some might impose charges
for large vehicles driving into cities etc
It’s the open back D i c k mobiles
Eg Ford Rangers etc and vans that are clogging up roads
and are a menace along small country lanes.
If you can afford large vehicles then pay more.
Simple
Christ I bet your a barrel of laughs