A landslip-hit road in Wroxall is due to undergo temporary repairs this week — with the aim of reopening the road to two-way traffic.
The Isle of Wight Council, in collaboration with Island Roads, has developed a temporary scheme for St John's Road based on the initial findings of a ground investigation survey.
Due to start today (Tuesday), the works will involve removing fallen debris from the highway and building a temporary wall using concrete-filled sandbags at the base of the embankment, with suitable drainage.
The face of the landslip will also 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.
The council said the scheme provided the best possible temporary solution while long-term measures were developed over the coming months.
Cllr 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.
As is standard in such incidents, the soil could not be moved until ground investigation works had been carried out. To do so may have caused further landslips.
Welcoming the news, local member Councillor Rodney Downer, added:
"I am pleased that a temporary solution has been found, and will relieve the disruption that Wroxall has endured these past few months."