FOOTWAYS improvements are being made around the island after the Department of Infrastructure secured £500,000 for the works.
Director of highways Richard Pearson said those which are heavily used and in the worst condition were being prioritised: ‘There are footways around the island in a terrible condition but are less used. It would cost tens of millions of pounds to resolve them all.’
A one-way system is in place on Finch Road, Douglas, running towards Prospect Hill while new footways are installed in Finch Road and Church Road between Prospect Hill and Market Street.
High quality materials will be used for the footways between Mount Havelock and Well Road Hill because of high pedestrian usage and the proximity of the section to the Douglas regeneration area. Improvements will also be made to the drainage and pedestrian crossing points – such as drop kerbs. The works were originally due to take five months to complete, but it is hoped they will be completed sooner as additional resources have been allocated.
Parents of pupils at St Thomas’ School have been advised to use Chester Street car park while a lay-by is unavailable.
New footways will also be installed in Lezayre Road, Ramsey.