VENTNOR TO SHANKLIN VIA CHALE – 16 MILE DIVERSION LIKELY DUE TO ROAD CLOSURES

Those travelling in and out of Ventnor are already facing lengthy diversions via Whitwell due to 2 emergency road closures, but things look set to get worse with a one-way system being proposed taking motorists on a 16-mile diversion via Chale. On Sunday night the decision was taken by the Police to close Leeson Road – the main Shanklin to Ventnor route – due to the massive landslide that has rocked the area. Although an inconvenience, motorists have showed understanding due to the unusual, natural event. However, on Monday afternoon it was confirmed that Newport Road – connecting Lower and Upper Ventnor – would have to be closed at The Graben due to a collapsed sewer, severing the alternative route in and out of Ventnor. Souther Water have been on site over the past 24 hours or so but initial investigations to understand the extent of the damaged sewer are still ongoing. Once complete, a better idea of how long the remedial work will take will be understood. This new information suggests that the road won’t be opening in the immediate future. With all traffic now having to head in and out of Ventnor via Whitwell, traffic chaos has ensued. As a result, a plan has been put forward to introduce a one-way system between the villages of Godshill and Ventnor. It has been revealed that motorists heading out of Ventnor will be directed to turn left at Kemming Road in Whitwell to travel through Niton, Blackgang, Chale and Chale Green. Of course, local traffic will know to head through Niton to cut out a large section of the diversion route, but the journey will still top 12 miles. Island Roads says it is encouraging Southern Water to complete the works as soon as possible and has requested that Southern Water create the one-way system from Godshill to Whitwell to better accommodate the additional volume of traffic currently being diverted along the route.