Work is progressing well to upgrade the traffic signals and pedestrian crossing at the Bucks Road/Circular Road junction in Douglas.
The Department of Infrastructure scheme, which also involves the resurfacing of a section of Prospect Hill, is on schedule for completion by 16 February.
Businesses in the area remain open as usual and efforts are being made to minimise the disruption during peak daytime hours, so that customers and staff can continue to access shops and offices in the area.
The scheme is necessary in order to replace the traffic signals at the junction of Bucks Road/Circular Road, which have reached the end of their operational life. The opportunity is also being taken to upgrade the kerbing and replace tactile paving at all crossing points.
The Prospect Hill carriageway is being relaid from its junction with Ridgeway Street to its junction with Albert Street. This will be undertaken in two phases to maintain traffic flow around the capital. Phase one, from Finch Road to Ridgeway Street, will start on Monday 2 February 2015, with phase two, from Finch Road to Albert Street, commencing on Monday 9 February.
Preparation work, which involves planing out the existing road surface and adjusting ironwork such as gully covers and manhole lids, will be carried out during evening road closures from 6.30pm to 6.30am.
The first of two weekend daytime closures will be in place on Saturday and Sunday 7 and 8 February, with a further road closure to follow on 14-15 February to enable resurfacing to be completed. The scheme will be finished and the new traffic signals operational by Monday 16 February.
Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK said:
‘I recognise that highway work of this nature causes disruption and I wish to thank people, in particular the businesses in the area, for their understanding and co-operation. Our staff will continue to work at weekends and evenings to finish the job as quickly as possible. This is an important scheme that will improve the highway infrastructure in the heart of Douglas.’
