Island Roads thanks public following successful improvements

Island Roads has thanked Island residents, businesses and motorists following the completion of a three-week road improvement programme.

The surface dressing scheme saw more than 17 kilometres of highway covering over 100,000 square metres (10 1/2 miles over 1,000,000 sqft), treated to prolong the life of the roads and improve safety. The works were aided by a spell of warm, dry weather, allowing the team to progress without losing any shifts.

Surface dressing helps to restore skid resistance and prevent water ingress, a key cause of potholes, by sealing the road surface. Although applied using moving vehicles to reduce disruption, some inconvenience is inevitable.

“We would like to thank the public for their patience and co-operation throughout the works,” said a spokesman for Island Roads. “Public support and compliance with road closures is vital in keeping both road users and our teams safe. With very few exceptions, the public response was fantastic, and we are truly grateful.”

Minor works including sweeping, road markings, and the replacement of road studs will now follow.

The roads resurfaced included Marshcombe Shute (Brading), Gully Road (Nettlestone), Lynch Lane and Freshwater Road (Calbourne), Newport Road (Shalfleet to Freshwater), and several others across Niton, Binstead, Carisbrooke, Cowes, Rookley and Shanklin.