Temporary traffic lights, diversions and closures - the extent of roadworks on the Isle of Wight has been revealed.
From maintenance to emergency repairs, as of today (Tuesday), there are at least 40 different sets of works affecting Island drivers.
Island Roads, which heads up highways improvements, says it understands people's "frustrations" and believes the work is "greatly improving the quality" of highways here.
Ryde works. Image from One Network.
Ryde tops the chart for the highest number of roadworks, with a total of ten different schemes taking place there.
Works to repair a gas main at Queen's Road have caused tailbacks over the last week, while drivers have had to follow a diversion because of works at Marlborough Road. Both have now been completed.
In other parts of the Island, long-term major schemes are already underway.
York Avenue in East Cowes is undergoing more than two months of work, which, according to Island Roads, is "progressing well".
East Cowes works. Image from One Network.
In Newport, and after months of disruption caused by the St Mary's Roundabout works, the Isle of Wight Council has now turned its attention to St George's Way.
Islanders were warned of delays as the six-month scheme to widen the road commenced earlier this month (March).
Island Roads says both schemes have commenced now, when roads are quieter due to the pandemic. Iain Thornton, streetworks manager, said:
“Under the highways PFI contract, Island Roads are required to maintain the public road network to a high standard and the work is, without question, greatly improving the quality of our highways and footways.
"To achieve this, we have a rolling programme of work which is planned over the course of each year. There is however a contractual requirement for us not to work on certain major roads during the holiday season which does mean work has to be concentrated outside the high summer months.
“This year we are also trying to use the period of COVID restrictions to undertake some major work - as we are doing with the York Avenue scheme in East Cowes which is progressing well.
“The IW Council also has the lighter current traffic volumes during restrictions very much in mind in commencing the St George’s Way improvement project. This work has also been timed to avoid the main holiday season."
The highways firm told Isle of Wight Radio that it is not responsible for all of the works being carried out on the Island.
Newport works. Image from One Network.
Temporary traffic lights are currently in place on The Fairway in Sandown due to WightFibre works, while Southern Gas Networks and Southern Water are also carrying out works across the Island.
Ian Thorton added:
“It must also be remembered that utility companies also undertake regular improvement and maintenance work as well as emergency repairs. These companies, including WightFibre who are undertaking significant ongoing work to increase connectivity on the Island, have a statutory right to undertake work and we work closely with them to try and minimise disruption and to co-ordinate activity with our own work. We have seen this effective collaboration recently on the SGN project in Wroxall which was delivered ahead of schedule.
“I, like the vast majority of Island Roads employees, live on the Island and completely understand the frustrations people have with roadworks. I can assure residents that we do plan to minimise disruption and I hope that any inconvenience experienced is offset by the fact that our highway network continues to improve.”
Newport and Sandown are next on the list of affected areas.
At the time of writing, there were at least seven sets of roadworks taking place in and around Newport and six in Sandown.
A map of current works can be found here - https://one.network/custom/isleofwight/.
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