Residents of an Isle of Wight town are bracing themselves for more road closures and parking suspensions next month as a vital link is shut. 

Castle Street, between Link Road and Well Road, in East Cowes will be upgraded by Island Roads from March 4 to fix the highway. 

Traffic travels along Castle Street when coming off of the Floating Bridge and when accessing shops on York Avenue.

Due to the nature of the excavation work needed, Island Roads said a round-the-clock road closure is required while it is carried out. 

It is expected to last five days and means vehicles will not be able to access York Avenue.

The Link Road one-way system around the town will be reversed to allow traffic back towards Clarence Road. 

Isle of Wight County Press:

Clarence Road, in turn, will be made one-way between York Avenue and School Hill Road in a southerly direction. 

To allow the movement of larger vehicles and HGVs along the diversion route, parking restrictions will be added to sections of Clarence Road and Yarborough Road. 

Isle of Wight County Press:

The work has been scheduled to coincide with the suspension of the Floating Bridge as it undergoes its annual refit. 

The Cowes to East Cowes service will be out-of-action from 5am on Monday, March 4 for a week, so various parts like the hydraulics, guidewheels and prows can be replaced and inspected. 

Island Roads has thanked residents in advance for their cooperation and understanding during the works.

A spokesperson said: “We recognise that these works may cause some inconvenience for residents and businesses, but we hope any disruption will be offset by the long-term improvements we are making.

“We have scheduled the works to coincide with the suspension of the floating bridge and before the main holiday season begins to minimise disruption. We have also spoken to businesses in the area – including GKN and Red Funnel – to advise them of the works."

If there are any changes to the date and duration of the works, on-site notice boards will confirm the timings.