Rope-Climbing Experts Swing Into Action to Protect Island’s Bridges and Walls
Island Roads has called in specialist rope teams to tackle overgrown vegetation on the Island’s toughest-to-reach highway structures. These daring climbers have already surveyed and cleared 89 sites, including bridges and retaining walls, with more work set for autumn.
High-Stakes Maintenance on Iconic Structures
About a third of the targeted spots are key bridges supporting the Island’s road and cycle network. Among them are:
- The Cement Mills Viaduct and Old Railway Tunnel at Cowes
- Pennyfeathers Steam Bridge at Ryde
- Gully Road Footbridge in Seaview
- Ashey Chalk Pit Tunnel
- Sandown Bridge at Morton Common
- Scotchells Bridge and Skew Bridge Footbridge at Lake
- Cliff Bridge at Shanklin
- Shepherds Chine, Atherfield, and Bowbridge at Godshill
Retaining Walls Also in the Spotlight
Retaining walls in the Ventnor area have been a major focus, with teams clearing vegetation from spots such as:
- The Cascades
- St Alban’s Steps
- Bath Road and Ocean View Road
- The Chimney Steps
- Belgrave Road, Esplanade Road, Alpine Road
- Chine Hill in Shanklin
- Church Lane in Ryde
Why Rope Teams? Safety and Preservation
“Over time, roots burrowing into mortar and stonework weaken the strength of bridges and retaining walls,” said Victoria Keefe, Island Roads structures engineer. “Many of these sites are difficult to access, so we use specialist teams with ropes and climbing gear to safely survey and clear them.”
All sites are checked beforehand for nesting birds, with any active nests delaying work until autumn. Though much of this vital maintenance happens out of sight, it plays a key role in keeping the Island’s infrastructure safe and sound.
