Travel guide during works
Guide to travelling to and from Ventnor during Southern Water works at the Graben
A section of Newport Road, known as ‘The Graben’ - which links Ventnor and Upper Ventnor - is closed from 24 June for two weeks to allow Southern Water to undertake essential maintenance on its infrastructure beneath the road.
During this time, vehicles are being diverted in and out of the town to the west (via Whitwell).
To assist with traffic flows, a number of temporary restrictions have been put in place for the duration of the works.
This is a guide to travelling in and out of Ventnor from various directions for motor vehicles excluding HGVs.
What do I do if
From Shanklin head towards Godshill via the Whiteley Bank roundabout. Continue through Sandham into Godshill. After you pass Godshill Primary School (on your right), take a left turn into West Street as the road bends to the right. West Street leads onto Whitwell Road, which you follow all the way to Ventnor (part of the road has been made one way from Merryl Lane in a southerly direction). When you reach Gills Cliff Road, turn left, go up the hill where you will come to Ocean View Road. Follow this road down into the town centre.
Exit the town via Whitwell Road off Gills Cliff Road. Follow the road to Whitwell, when you reach the church turn left into Kemming Road, which leads to Niton. At the junction with the village shop to your right, turn right onto Newport Road which leads to Rookley. In Rookley, when you reach the main road, turn right through Rookley village and return to Shanklin via Godshill, Sandford, Whiteley Bank.
At the eastern end of the Military Road, follow Blackgang Road into Niton. At the junction opposite the village shop, go straight on to Rectory Road (signposted Whitwell), continue to Whitwell, turn right onto Whitwell Road (part of this road has been made one way from Merryl Lane in a southerly direction), which you follow all the way to Ventnor. When you reach Gills Cliff Road, turn left, go up the hill where you will come to Ocean View Road. Follow this road down into the town centre.
Exit the town via Whitwell Road off Gills Cliff Road. Follow the road to Whitwell, when you reach the church turn left into Kemming Road, which leads to Niton. Once in Niton take your usual route back to West Wight.
From Newport, head out of Newport towards Blackwater, then turn right onto Blackwater Hollow which leads to Rookley. Continue through the village of Rookley until you reach Godshill. Before you get to the village centre, turn right into West Steet (where the road bends to the left, this road will lead you to Whitwell Road (part of this road has been made one way from Merryl Lane in a southerly direction), which you follow all the way to Ventnor. When you reach Gills Cliff Road, turn left, go up the hill where you will come to Ocean View Road. Follow this road down into the town centre.
Exit the town via Whitwell Road off Gills Cliff Road. Follow the road to Whitwell, when you reach the church turn left into Kemming Road, which leads to Niton. At the junction with the village shop to your right, turn right onto Newport Road which leads to Rookley. In Rookley, when you reach the main road, turn left onto Blackwater Hollow and head back to Newport.
Make your way to Godshill via your chosen route, once in the village turn into West Street which leads onto Whitwell Road (part of this road has been made one way from Merryl Lane in a southerly direction), which you follow all the way to Ventnor. When you reach Gills Cliff Road, turn left, go up the hill where you will come to Ocean View Road. Follow this road down into the town centre.
Exit the town via Whitwell Road off Gills Cliff Road. Follow the road to Whitwell, when you reach the church turn left into Kemming Road, which leads to Niton. At the junction with the village shop to your right, turn right onto Newport Road which leads to Rookley. In Rookley, when you reach the main road turn left if heading back to Ryde via Newport or turn right for routes across the Downs or via East Wight.
Newport Road (at the Graben) will be closed to all vehicles but cyclists may dismount and push their bicycles via the pedestrian route which will remain open throughout the works period.
A pedestrian route will remain open along Newport Road (the Graben) for the duration of the works.
Drivers of HGVs or large vehicles should follow the routes into Ventnor as outlined for vehicles above, HOWEVER on exiting the town, rather than returning north via Niton, HGVs should continue along Blackgang Road from Niton and turn right onto the B3399 via Chale and rejoin Niton Road via Appleford Road.