The sea defence works on the Eastern Esplanade are not due to be completed and the promenade reopened until the end of May, the Isle of Wight council have announced.
The Eastern Esplanade has been closed to the public since November 2022 following significant damage to the seawall.
Vital repairs
In May 2023, work began to install more than 150 king piles and 146 timber panels in front of the existing seawall to create new defences.
At the time it was thought work to the area between Ventnor and Wheeler’s Bay would be completed by February 2024. That was pushed back due to adverse weather (remember storms Ciaran and Babet?). At the beginning of March 2024, the council were hopeful that the esplanade would be reopened by 14th May.
End of May completion
However due to more adverse weather conditions (February was the wettest on record), the reopening of the promenade has now been pushed back to end of May.
Those working on the repairs, residents and visitors will all be keeping their fingers crossed for better weather conditions over the coming weeks.
