MAJOR roadworks on two of the Isle of Wight's busiest roads could have a "detrimental impact" on the Island's economy in the run-up to the holiday season, according to the Island's Chamber of Commerce.

Island drivers could face months of motoring misery as road improvement schemes along two of the Isle of Wight's main routes begin over the next two months.

Resurfacing work starts on Monday from the Racecourse Roundabout working towards Ferry Road in East Cowes.

Then, from April 4, resurfacing and highway improvement will also take place along the main road from Newport to Cowes.

The timing of the schemes has been condemned by the chief executive of the Island's Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Smith, who said the work would hit traders just as the holiday season begins.

Mr Smith said: "There should not be any roadworks during that window of the holiday season. It should all happen off-season.

"I know there are only a few windows during the year when you can do the work, which are from January to March and September to November.

"Major works really need to be thought out properly otherwise they have a detrimental impact on our economy."

Work on both roads is due to cost about £1.3m and follows last year's roadworks on the Newport to Ryde and Newport to Freshwater strategic corridors.

As well as road improvements, highways staff will be resurfacing pavements along both carriageways and carrying out improvements to bus stops and street lights.

On the East Cowes to Racecourse Roundabout section, work is due to be completed by April 14.

During the roadworks from Mill Hill Road in Cowes to St Mary's roundabout, workers will be resurfacing the full length of the road as well as carrying out street lighting and pavement improvements.

The work is expected to be completed by June 14 this year.

Both roads will have temporary traffic lights between 9am and 4pm to allow footpath improvements to be carried out.

But the main road is being resurfaced between 6pm and 6am in a bid to minimise disruption.

The Island's executive member for transport, Councillor Ernie Fox, said every effort had been made to try to keep disruption to motorists to a minimum.

He said: "The amount of footway works on the East Cowes road is relatively small.

"There will not be major hold-ups to traffic. There will be some resurfacing but it will happen very quickly.

"When we did the Ryde to Newport Road, we did the work later than we wanted.

"This year, we will be getting a very early start."