WORKS to repair a landslip-hit road in Wroxall are due to start this week.

The aim, the Isle of Wight Council says, is to reopen the road to two-way traffic.

The local authority, in collaboration with Island Roads, has developed a temporary scheme for St John’s Road following a ground investigation survey.

The work is due to start tomorrow (Tuesday) and will involve the removal of fallen debris and the installation of a temporary wall made up of concrete-filled sandbags at the base of the embankment, with suitable drainage.  

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The face of the landslip is also expected to be covered in a protective matting, to prevent further erosion and help stabilise the area.

“All works will be carried out within the extent of the existing temporary traffic lights,” said a spokesperson for the council.

“The scheme provided the best possible temporary solution while long-term measures are developed over the coming months.”

Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: "I'm sure this is the news everyone in Wroxall, and those who regularly use this busy road, have been waiting for.

"These works will enable us to remove the temporary traffic lights from St Johns Road and grant our engineers time to design potential long-term options for this section of the embankment.

"Weather permitting, we're hoping these remedial works will be completed by the end of the week.

"We will of course continue to monitor the embankment and should additional ground movement occur, there may be a need for temporary traffic measures to be reintroduced."

Temporary traffic lights have been in operation since November last year when a landslip sent tonnes of debris into the highway.

The soil could not be moved until ground investigation works had been carried out, for fear of causing further landslips.