CHANGES to the dates for Smallbrook junction works in Ryde means a section of Ashey Road will no longer close on Monday.

BT Openreach will now be undertaking work to divert its services at Smallbrook between Friday, December 17, and Tuesday, December 21.

Originally, the work was planned to commence on Monday, December 13, and conclude on the Friday.

The work will require the closure of a section of Ashey Road, with traffic diverted via Carters Road ­— which will revert to two-way traffic ­— and Upton Road.

Until BT works begin, the current traffic arrangements will remain with Carters Road and Smallbrook Lane one-way, with three-way lights at Smallbrook roundabout.

While on site, they will bring forward work involving the erection of a new telegraph pole prior to the re-routing of overhead cables which is planned for January.

After the BT work, Island Roads intends to remove all traffic management from the area for the Christmas and New Year period, but this can only be done if it is safe to do so.

While the new BT dates are a departure from the schedule communicated earlier this week, it is not expected to affect the overall duration of the project.