Work has finally begun on lower Gills Cliff Road, Ventnor this week, following a rockfall in February 2024.
Local company DDGA has been appointed to carry out the cliff stabilisation works.
Road closed for five months
The road has been closed since February 2024, following large rockfall from the cliff face, which took out the traffic lights as it fell.
Residents and businesses have been calling for months for the work to be carried out, saying that it has had a detrimental effect on trade in the town.
Taken months to agree a design
The work will see large sections of the rockface covered by heavy-duty steel netting, designed to prevent further debris from falling onto the footway or road.
The Isle of Wight council said that one of the challenges has been to identify areas within the rockface that are safe to anchor the netting onto without causing further weaknesses.
Park and Ride for Ventnor Fringe
The council said they hope the work will be completed by early August.
This is obviously too late for Ventnor Fringe Festival (19th-28th July) which attracts 1000s of visitors to the town, but the festival organisers have put in place a park and ride shuttle bus service, taking passengers from the Rugby Club into the town past all the various venues.
