The Environment Agency Start Work On Isle Of Wight Embankment Road Coastal Defence

The Environment Agency are doing groundwork investigations to better understand the composition and condition of the embankment that covers 1.7km along Embankment Road, from Bembridge Sailing Club to St Helens.

The work will take place from September 21 to October 6, with two-way traffic management in place.

The coastal defences along Embankment Road are ageing, with some sections reaching the end of their useful life.

If nothing is done to repair these, over time there will be an increased risk of failure in the form of a breach.

This would adversely impact the B3395 and the footpath alongside Bembridge Harbour. It would also lead to tidal flooding in the low-lying land of Brading Marshes nature reserve.

The RSPB site is recognised internationally for its freshwater habitat and saline lagoons and is an important site for wintering and nesting birds in the Solent.

Emily Gordon, Programme Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

"This is to allow space for specialist equipment and a safe working space for our staff.

"We have worked with Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads to reduce the number of road closures as much as possible, and there will also be some footpath closures. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this will cause."

For the groundwork investigations along the Embankment Road, boreholes will be drilled at various points along the road using specialist equipment to retrieve a core which will be analysed by a specialist.

The proposed sites for these boreholes can be seen on our dedicated webpage.