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Why are so many roads closed on the Isle of Wight?

Curtis LancasterSouth of England
News imageBBC Image shows a road with traffic. There is a sign and a traffic cone saying Road Ahead Closed, and a yellow information sign saying that Horsebridge Hill is closed from Nicholson Street and that this road (Horsebridge Hill) is a no through road.BBC
Southern Water is replacing old piping across the Isle of Wight

Drivers on the Isle of Wight are facing lengthy delays as a combination of major roadworks and flooding affect key routes across the island.

Here is what you need to know.

Four-month disruption

News imageSouthern Water Map showing diversion and one-way system.Southern Water
Horsebridge Hill has become a one-way system with no access towards Cowes

At the centre of the island, Southern Water has introduced a one‑way system on Horsebridge Hill, meaning there is no access towards Cowes from Newport until 17 April.

Buses and emergency vehicles can still use the route via temporary traffic lights.

Alongside this, the main road into Ryde from Newport is also affected. The A3054 at Fishbourne has a one‑way system and diversions in place until 10 April.

These schemes form part of a £5m programme to upgrade ageing water mains, with more work planned in 2026.

New Road closure

Island Roads has also begun four weeks of improvements on New Road, Brading, which is closed between Marshcombe Shute and Wrax Road.

The work involves deeper‑than‑usual excavations to fix underlying issues that have damaged the highway.

"Our work to maintain a safe, good‑quality network is ongoing, and the winter months are when we can make improvements," a spokesperson said.

They added that delaying the scheme risked "a series of temporary fixes under emergency closures throughout the summer, bringing uncertainty and inconvenience".

A diversion is in place for cars and buses via St Helens and Bembridge. HGVs face a longer route due to Southern Water's one‑way system in Fishbourne.

Flooded roads

News imageIsland Echo Two white vans and a dark coloured car in between them sit in deep water almost up to the bonnets. Bright lights from emergency vehicles shine in the background in the darknessIsland Echo
Firefighters rescued two people trapped in a vehicle

The disruption was made worse by heavy rain on Sunday, when 35-40mm (about 1.5 inches) of rainfall left some roads impassable and several vehicles stranded.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said it received numerous calls from around 18:10 GMT, mainly from Newport and Shanklin.

Firefighters rescued two people from a vehicle trapped in deep water in Pondwell Hill, Nettlestone.

Island Roads said its control hub handled 120 flooding‑related calls, and crews worked through the night into Monday to assess sites and reopen roads closed on safety grounds.

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