Weeks of work to Mountain Road starts next month

DOI carrying out extensive resurfacing work

The Department of Infrastructure's defending its decision to close a section of the Mountain Road throughout December.

It's after the Northern Chamber of Commerce called for planned resurfacing work to be postponed until the new year when it would have a ‘less detrimental impact’ on the financial and mental well-being of local businesses.

The work is said to be part of the Department of Infrastructure's ongoing plans to improve the Island's roads.

After a review of various data including from road collisions, a decision has been made to resurface the road to improve the condition of the carriageway and general road safety.

KEY DATES IN BRIEF

• Monday 2 December 2024 - closed between 9.30am and 4.30pm between the Brandywell Road and Creg ny Baa junctions
• Tuesday 3 December 2024 - closed between 9.30am and 4.30pm between the Brandywell Road and Creg ny Baa junctions
• Monday 9 December 2024 - closed between 9.30am and 4.30pm between the Brandywell Road and Creg ny Baa junctions
• Tuesday 10 December 2024 - closed between 9.30am and 4.30pm between the Brandywell Road and Creg ny Baa junctions
• Monday 16 December 2024 - closed between 9.30am and 4.30pm between the Brandywell Road and Creg ny Baa junctions
• Tuesday 17 December 2024 - closed between 9.30am and 4.30pm between the Brandywell Road and Creg ny Baa junctions
• Monday 31 March 2025 to Saturday 26 April 2025 (inclusive) - CLOSED between Creg ny Baa to the Bungalow
• Monday 14 April 2025 to Thursday 17 April 2025 (inclusive) - CLOSED from Ramsey to the Bungalow
• Tuesday 22 April 2025 to Saturday 25 April 2025 (inclusive) - CLOSED from Ramsey to the Bungalow

DECEMBER 2024 - SURVEYING

The first phase will see a series of daytime closures between the Brandywell Road and Creg ny Baa junctions which will be for surveying.

That section will be shut between 9.30am and 4.30pm on the Mondays and Tuesdays of the first three weeks of December.

As the work is weather dependent, there'll also be some contingency days set aside on the 11th and 18th. 

MARCH/APRIL 2025 - CONSTRUCTION

Surfacing work on the Mountain Road is planned to start on Monday 31 March 2025 and it's expected to take four weeks to complete, finishing on Saturday 26 April 2025.

This phase will need a 24/7 road closure between the Bungalow and the Creg ny Baa, which will include the Easter period.

The DOI is also planning to excavate the road surface and replace collapsed stone culverts below the carriageway between Keppel Gate and Kate's Cottage.

It's thought these culverts are not operating at capacity, and are being blamed for the issues with surface water on the road at Kate's Cottage, which is increasing the risk of ice over the winter period.

There will also be a contingency in place to extend the closure period until Friday 2 May 2025 if needed.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The DOI has given answers to a number of questions it's received about the timings of the closures.

• Why is the work being done in the Spring?

The weather typically experienced on the Mountain Road over the winter months is said to make carrying out construction work then difficult. 

It's prone to very heavy rainfall, mist, freezing temperatures, snow and ice, all of which make resurfacing work 'impossible'.

The department does admit that while the best time of year to resurface a road would be in the height of summer, the TT races and the Manx Grand Prix take priority.

Newly surfaced roads need to be 'run in' before they're raced on, meaning the months between May and August are unavailable.

While it would be possible to wait until next autumn, the DOI has decided it's better to make the improvements as soon as possible.

• What is the DOI doing to reduce the impact of the works on the general public?

The department says by carrying out the surveying work outside of commuter periods, it means most people travelling to and from the North for work won't be affected.

It's also chosen to do it on Mondays and Tuesdays as the Victory Cafe and Peveril Rifle Range are both closed on those days.

As for the complete closure during the construction stage, the DOI says it has a long-standing policy of only carrying out work on the Mountain Road when it's closed because of the potential risk to workers and the public is described as 'too great otherwise'.

However, it says any significant work on alternative routes between Douglas and the North will be arranged for other times. 

• What about TT preparation work?

Every April, work is done to prepare the Mountain Road for the TT races which involve a series of closures.

The DOI says this work is going to be done at the same time as the resurfacing.

• Will the area of the Bungalow and the Creg ny Baa Hotel be accessible at all times?

In short, yes. 

The department says the Snaefell Mountain Railway will operate as normal and the Snaefell Summit Café and Victory Café will be accessible from Sulby via the Tholt Y Will Road at all times.   

The Creg ny Baa Hotel will be accessible from Douglas via Hillberry and Laxey via the Creg ny Baa Back Road at all times.