Island Roads has been working closely with stakeholders to co‑ordinate as much highway activity as possible alongside the forthcoming utility works on Fairlee Road.

Fairlee Road will be closed as a through route from Monday 20 April to Friday 1 May to allow for a new water and sewerage connection works to take place. A full road closure is necessary as the scheme involves excavating trenches of up to six metres in depth.

Island Roads has been liaising with partner organisations to explore whether other planned works in the Fairlee area can be delivered while traffic levels are reduced, as vehicles travelling from the east to Newport and beyond will be diverted via Staplers.

The co‑ordinated programme will include tree works by the Isle of Wight Council at Seaclose Park near Medina College, while discussions are also ongoing with Crownpark, who are building the new Newport Football Club at the Racecourse, to see if any access and other work can be carried out during the Fairlee Road closure.

In addition, Island Roads will undertake any necessary highway maintenance works that can be completed while the closure is in place. All associated activity will be managed using temporary traffic lights where required.

An Island Roads spokesperson said: “Although the main works on Fairlee Road are not being carried out by Island Roads, we have taken the opportunity to co‑ordinate other activities to coincide with the closure, when traffic levels are lighter.

“There is never a good time to undertake work on Fairlee Road, and some disruption is unfortunately unavoidable. However, by scheduling the works between the Easter holidays and the main summer season, and by aligning them with other planned activity in the area, we are seeking to minimise disruption as much as possible.

“We would like to thank the Isle of Wight Council and Crownpark for their co‑operation in helping to co‑ordinate these works.”