Embankment Stabilisation Work To Begin At St John’s Road In Wroxall

Work to stabilise the embankment at St John’s Road in Wroxall, which partially collapsed and caused significant disruption, is set to begin shortly.

The Isle of Wight Council scheme, being delivered by Island Roads, will involve removing large quantities of unstable earth and building a new retaining wall.

The wall will be shaped to improve visibility for road users and those using the nearby bus stop.

Work is due to start on 2 March, once the current major Island Roads project to reconstruct and resurface the village’s main road has been completed.

Because of the scale of the works, a full 24-hour road closure will be required between Appuldurcombe Road and Whiteley Bank for the duration of the project.

Redhill Lane will also be closed throughout the works.

Island Roads hopes to reopen the road under temporary traffic-light control by the Easter Bank Holiday, subject to progress on site.

Access to nearby properties will be maintained at all times.

The council says the work cannot be carried out under the existing road closure, as this would leave properties between the two work sites inaccessible.

In addition, the section of road next to the new retaining wall needs resurfacing as part of the scheme.

Running two adjacent work sites at the same time would also present operational challenges and could delay both projects.

To help reduce disruption, Island Roads has coordinated with BT so the utility company can carry out preparatory work during the current closure.

An Island Roads spokesperson said there is never an ideal time for large-scale earthworks, explaining that winter conditions are unsuitable and the busy tourism season must also be avoided.

They added that while the project is scheduled to take around eight weeks, efforts will be made to complete it sooner if possible.

The work will be carried out in partnership with local firm DDGA, which has previously delivered specialist projects on the Island, including the Gills Cliff Road steel netting scheme and the re-decking of the Cement Mills Viaduct on the Cowes–Newport cycle track.

Island Roads has met with Wroxall Parish Council and the local ward councillor to discuss the plans, and affected residents will receive letters with further details.

The shuttle bus service currently operating between Wroxall and Ventnor during the ongoing highway improvement works will continue to run throughout the embankment project.

St John’s Road was previously closed and later operated under two-way traffic lights after tonnes of earth slipped from the embankment in late 2022.

Temporary measures were put in place in early 2023, with the upcoming works providing a permanent, long-term solution.