Repairs have been completed and Newport Road will be reopened to vehicles today, thanks to some speedy work by Southern Water. Thank you all!
A spokesperson for Island Roads confirmed to News OnTheWight this morning,
“We have been informed by Southern Water’s contractors that the repairs have been completed, the highway is being re-instated today and that the road should be re-opened by 5pm this evening.”
Collapsed sewer
The road was closed on Monday afternoon following reports of a damaged sewer.
The timing couldn’t have been any worse, given the closure of Leeson Road impacted by the large landslide that took place on Sunday night in Bonchurch.
One road in and out
It meant the only road in and out of Ventnor was Whitwell Road.
On Tuesday afternoon, Island Roads issued a mandatory diversion for traffic leaving Ventnor, which would have meant a 40 minute journey to get from Ventnor to Shanklin.
Confusion over signage
The official signage placed at the junction of Kemming Road and High Street read that the diversion was for HGVs only, causing confusion for drivers.
Many vehicles continued to use the ‘Whitwell Narrows’ to get to Godshill and beyond.
Undercliff Drive
It’s almost ten years since part of Undercliff Drive collapsed and the road has remain closed to through traffic ever since.
This week has seen many calls on social media for action to be taken to reinstate Undercliff Drive to through traffic once again.
