Travel Disruption Expected As Major Coppins Bridge Works Start

Drivers are warned to expect disruption as work to upgrade traffic signals at Coppins Bridge starts next week.

Island Roads, on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, is installing latest ‘intelligent technology’ to make traffic lights more reliable and energy efficient.

Four pedestrian crossings in the area will also be upgraded to incorporate the latest LED, low-energy technology.

The crossing between the Medina Way slip road and Fairlee Road will be changed from a ‘Pelican’ to a ‘Puffin’ crossing, which includes smart technology that automatically extends crossing times for slower pedestrians and does not halt traffic when nobody is using it. The remaining crossings, which are already Puffin crossings, will also be upgraded to run on a lower voltage to improve energy efficiency.

Island Roads says works will be undertaken either side of Christmas to ensure the project doesn't impact the main festive shopping period. It will involve seven signal sites undertaken over five phases, to further reduce disruption. 

Much of the programme will be undertaken overnight to help limit disruption, but temporary traffic lights will be put in place in daytime where required. Where necessary these will be manually controlled to aid traffic flow.

Some lane or road closures will be necessary during some of the more complex, aspects of the programme to complete the work and during these times a signed diversion will be in place.

Keith Gourlay, Island Roads construction manager, said:

“Clearly Coppins Bridge is an extremely busy location and the need to minimise disruption has been foremost in our planning with the Isle of Wight Council.

“There will be periods when alternative traffic arrangements will be necessary, but we are doing all we can to minimise impact including much night working and, crucially, ceasing work altogether in the run up to and over the Christmas period.

“But as all Islanders know, this is a very busy junction and we hope residents will appreciate the need to ensure the traffic signals are the most efficient, safe and effective.

“We will be working closely in the coming weeks with local businesses to discuss the arrangements around the works taking place in the New Year, particularly those in the High Street to assist with any access requirements for deliveries.

“We would like to thank residents and businesses in advance for their understanding and co-operation.”

The schemes are the last phase of a programme under the Highways PFI to upgrade all of the Island’s traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

It was initially scheduled to be undertaken in 2019 but postponed, in agreement with the Isle of Wight Council, so as not to coincide either with the St Mary’s junction improvement or the St George’s Way widening schemes.

The first set of works, beginning on Monday, will see the set of lights at the junction of St George’s Way and Coppins Bridge upgraded. While this is done there will be temporary signals in place, operated manually to ensure traffic is kept moving. 

On completion, attention will then shift to upgrading the Barton Road/High Street pedestrian crossing.

The work will then cease for the festive period between December 6 and January 7, 2022. They will resume again from January 10, 2022. 

Island Roads hopes the project will be fully completed by March 11, 2022.

A full timetable of works can be found below: