The council have shared an update from Captiva Homes, the developer responsible for the work on Horsebridge Hill as part of the largest affordable housing development in a decade.
Diversions are in place for two months, with all northbound traffic having to divert along Forest Road, up Whitehouse Lane and into Cowes via Rolls Hill and Pallance Road.
In week two
In the second week of work, Captiva report on the impact of the diversion. They claim the following:
- 43 journeys recorded on diversion from Newport to Cowes (between 19.5 – 23.5)
- Average journey time throughout the week was 16.25mins (up slightly vs 15.58mins last week)
- Longest recorded journey time was 27mins, Tuesday morning at 07.53 (down vs 47mins last week)
- Average daily journey times: Monday 14.30, Tuesday 17.18, Wednesday 17.33, Thursday 15.36 and Friday (morning only) 16.00
- Limited afternoon peak data but recorded journeys on Tuesday and Thursday after 16.00 both report 22 mins
- Travel from Cowes to Newport has continued to flow smoothly.
The data is taken from the time a vehicle joins Forest Road. If vehicle joins via Gunville Road, 2 minutes is added onto the journey time to ensure like-for-like comparison (2 mins is based on previous data tracking). Arrival time is recorded as either Nodes Road via Pallance Road or Horsebridge Hill via Noke Common (there is little difference between the two journey times).
Update on works
- Commenced 12 May, currently on programme.
- Two gangs operating throughout the week, will increase to three gangs when curbing work commences (next week).
- One gang operating Saturday 24 May.
Work completed W/C 19.05.25
- Complete excavation for widening northbound and southbound carriageway
- Acceptance testing of construction layer for all widening areas (by Island Roads)
- Removal of existing surface water carrier pipe prior to upgrade (Northbound Carriageway)
- Installation of new surface water carrier pipe (Northbound Carriageway)
- Install new surface water silt trap chamber
- Install geotextile/grid to northbound carriageway
- Lay capping layer northbound carriageway
- Relocate electric service northbound carriageway
- Install new water main to southbound carriageway
- Carry out repairs to surface water carrier pipe (southbound Carriageway)
Work Scheduled W/C 26/05/25
- Complete new water main installation northbound carriageway (facilitating Southern Water to prevent further roadworks on this section of Horsebridge Hill)
- Commence installation to southbound and northbound widening sections
- Install traffic signal ducting northbound widening
- Install Kerbs to northbound widening
- Install Kerbs to northbound carriageway
Find out more
The council has created a dedicated email address for all roadwork related queries [email protected].
This can be found on the FAQs page on the council’s website.
