WORK has begun to make one of the Island's most notorious accident blackspots safer.
There has been one death and 12 other accidents resulting in injury along the Mersley Downs Road during the past three years.
The Isle of Wight Council is carrying out resurfacing and other remedial work on a bend in the Newport to Brading road and improving visibility at the junction of Lime Kiln Shute.
Anti-skid surfacing is also being laid at both locations in a bid to improve the accident rate.
The works started on Thursday last week and are due to last approximately four weeks.
During this time, traffic lights will be in operation and a 24-hour overnight road closure will take place from 7pm on December 11 to 7pm the following day, during which time a diversion will be put in place.
Head of highways Peter Hayward said: "I’m really pleased we are able to make these improvements to this section of road, which has proved difficult for drivers, as the accident record shows. It is impossible to make such improvements without causing some disruption but we have been able to schedule these outside of the high tourist season and I am sure the improvements will be welcomed by those who regularly use the road."