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Image: The Festival site earlier today
There remained long delays on Island roads on Thursday night, more than 17 hours after festival-goers began to arrive in cars for the Isle of Wight Festival 2012.
Southern Vectis was forced to suspend some bus services during the day when roads became gridlocked, tweeting passengers to keep them updated and advising of lengthy delays.
For a time there was a concern that school buses would be delayed when schools finished on Thursday afternoon, but in the end students were picked up on time. Journeys home were lengthened, however.
By 11pm, cars were still queing from the Barton Manor roundabout on the outskirts of East Cowes along to the festival site.
Meanwhile, earlier in the evening traffic queued for up to 2 hours along Mill Hill Road to cross the Solent on the Cowes Chain Ferry. By 11pm, the queues had cleared and the floating bridge service was due to continue until 12:20am.
In Newport, a one-way restriction was put in place along Fairlee Road. One carriageway has been closed, allowing for Newport-bound traffic only until Monday afternoon.
Wightlink services between Portsmouth and Fisbourne were hardest hit. A waterlogged car park on the festival site meant traffic did not clear quickly and roads between Seaclose Park, old East Cowes Road and Fishbourne became gridlocked.
Passengers were left stranded on ferries for a number of hours because of the amount of cars unable to get out of Wightlink's Fishbourne terminal.
In a statement, the operator said: "Due to congestion on the Isle of Wight Festival site and severe congestion surrounding our Fishbourne terminal the Portsmouth – Fishbourne service is currently delayed by 2 to 3 hours. Emergency traffic plans are being implemented in Portsmouth, whereby passengers are being marshalled to Southsea Common to awaiting a sailing. Some passengers have also been diverted to Lymington in an attempt to ease congestion."
At 9pm, Wightlink told Isle of Wight Radio that it still had around 400 cars to transport and most sailings for Friday were fully booked.
Traffic by Bumbles in Wooton leading into Newport
Briddlesfor road long delays
Floating bridge long delays
Park Road Closed
Mill Hill Road, Cowes
Fishbourne ferry terminal
Festival site, Thursday
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