Isle of Wight Council press release:
Welcome changes have been announced to the traffic and pedestrian arrangements at Ryde Interchange ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
Traffic arrangements in the area, which is currently at the heart of a major, year-long highway transformation programme, will be adjusted to help ease traffic and travel for those heading to Ryde for the bank holiday weekend, including the many scooterists attending this year’s Scooter Rally.
The changes, which will also benefit local residents and businesses, include:
The temporary walkway will be removed after the weekend to allow work to recommence but will be reinstated ahead of the Tour of Britain cycle race on Sunday 11 September. St Thomas’ Street will however continue to be two-way for the duration of the project.
Work on the footpath outside the front of LA Bowl is also nearing completion and all fencing and other work materials will be removed from this area of the site on Friday to open up the area once more.
New traffic islands further along the Esplanade opposite Ryde Castle, have also been completed and have already been helping those crossing this busy section of road.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport said: “Our contractors at Island Roads have been working hard to ensure that these changes could be brought in before the bank holiday weekend when so many residents and visitors will be wanting to enjoy the Scooter Rally and other events taking place in Ryde.”
The Ryde Interchange transformation project is a major programme of work to provide better travel connectivity as well as a much-improved public space in and around the transport hub in Ryde.
The £10 million scheme is supported by a government grant from the Transforming Cities Fund and is due to be completed by the end of March 2023.