By Isle of Wight Observer
Island residents and businesses are considering the impact of last week’s announcement of a one-way system on the road between Cowes and Newport (as previously reported).
With roadworks scheduled to begin on Monday (12 May), and last until July 4, an apology for the short notice fell flat for many Islanders, particularly after a satirical Facebook page showcased the plans.
The A3020 will become one way from Monday (May 12) until July 4, to enable junction improvement and utility works for the new Horsebridge Hill housing development. Northbound traffic, heading towards Cowes, will be diverted via Forest Road, Whitehouse Road, Rolls Hill, and Pallance Road. Southbound traffic from Cowes will continue to use the existing route. Bus services and emergency vehicles will receive priority access and be able to use the road in both directions. The road will also reopen to two-way traffic during the Isle of Wight Festival.
A council spokesman explained: “Due to the number of parties involved and various contracts in place, the plan was signed off recently and all parties involved apologise for the short notice. While there’s never a good time for roadworks, these upgrades are critical to expedite the delivery of much-needed social housing on the Island.” He also said that temporary traffic lights “would be disruptive, only allowing a handful of vehicles through at a time”, and that the carriage closure would create a safer working environment.
While the council urged drivers to switch to public transport to ease congestion, the reaction on social media was brutal.
Satirical site, Isle of Wight Can Depress, took aim at the diversion, publishing an map suggesting drivers would need to travel via the mainland, taking two ferry trips and a route through Portsmouth, along the M27 north of Southampton and back via the New Forest and Lymington. The parody post was shared more than 200 times and attracted many exasperated and some amusing comments. One person pointed out that the IW Council obviously thought the Floating Bridge would be out of service, otherwise they would have suggested going via East Cowes, other wags suggested the diversion was sponsored by the ferry companies.
Whether Islanders will still see the humour once the inconvenience and delays start next week remains to be seen.
