The Department of Infrastructure will start work on the final phase of the Lower Douglas Regeneration Scheme in Lord Street and Market Hill on Monday 2 September.
Market Hill will be fully reconstructed and the Lord Street and Victoria Street pedestrian crossings will also be modernised as part of the project.
This scheme links the Gaiety Theatre Area with the bars and restaurants of the Douglas Marina through the Island’s main shopping and retail area. It also supports the significant investments that have been made by private businesses in the Douglas Marina area and the planned development of a new hotel on Lord Street.
The improvements will regenerate Market Hill and the Lord Street crossing area. Although Market Hill will not be pedestrianised following consultation with the local businesses, the scheme is pedestrian-friendly in this niche area for independent shops and traders.
Footways on both sides of Market Hill, and the footway on Chapel Row, will be widened to strengthen pedestrian links from the quayside to Duke Street and beyond. The area of James Street behind Market Hall will become pedestrianised with circular granite seating around a tree, cycle stands and water bottle filling station.
A section of Lord Street will be reconstructed with a raised table-top ramp created to reduce vehicle speed, to improve safety and reinforce the presence of pedestrians.
The overall scheme will include replacing and upgrading public utility pipes, cables and ducts, improved highway drainage and soft landscaping.
Other inclusions will be:
- a tree planter at the top end of the parking bay on Market Hill to match those which have been placed in Duke Street
- cycle stands outside the Market Hall on the pedestrianised area in James Street
- a free-standing water bottle filling station outside the Market Hall in James Street
- improved street lighting on Market Hill, Chapel Row and James Street
- dropped kerbs and tactile paving at pedestrian crossing points at Chapel Row and Lord Street
- the crossing point will be controlled by lights to help ensure that those with sight or hearing impairment can cross in comfort
The project will take around 7 months and pedestrian access will be maintained to all shops and businesses throughout.
Traffic management
The main change for motorists is that from Monday 2 September until February 2020, a section of Lord Street from Bath Place cannon roundabout to Ridgeway Street will temporarily become one-way in a westerly (outbound) direction. Inbound traffic will be diverted on to North Quay at Ridgeway Street and motorists are advised to expect some delays. Vehicular access to Market Hill will be restricted and at times it will be closed off. However, pedestrian access will be maintained to all shops and businesses throughout the duration of the project.
The Department acknowledges that this project is being carried out at the same time as Douglas Promenade and has considered the potential traffic impact. It does not anticipate that the one-way system on Lord Street will cause any additional disruption to traffic flows on the Promenade.
The Department would like to thank businesses and traders in the area for their cooperation, patience and understanding, and apologises for any inconvenience caused for shoppers and motorists.
