The major road reconstruction scheme on Peel Road – one of the biggest such projects seen in the Isle of Man in recent years – is entering the next phase.
Focus of the work will switch to the section between the Brown Bobby and Belmont Hill.
And as part of an ongoing flood alleviation scheme, a new outfall pipe will be laid across Peel Road between Belmont Hill and Hills Meadow.
Director of highways Richard Pearson said: ‘The project is proceeding well and is ahead of programme.
‘We are moving on to complete the section between Brown Bobby and the current work area as well as continuing to work towards Quarterbridge from Pulrose Road.
‘Along with the road reconstruction works, a new outfall pipe will be laid across Peel Road between Belmont Hill and Hills Meadow.
‘This is part of an ongoing flood alleviation scheme for this area of Douglas which is being carried out in conjunction with the Water and Sewerage Authority.
‘The new upgraded outfall to the river will help reduce the frequency of flooding incidents on Peel Road as well as improving capacity in the wider catchment.’
The department said it will issue more detail about the temporary traffic management early this week.
All businesses on Peel Road and Pulrose Road will remain open and fully accessible throughout the course of these works.
The Department once again apologised for any delays the works will cause and said it is grateful for continued public patience to enable the major and long overdue improvement project to be completed.
The £4.3 million project to reconstruct the ‘switchback’ Peel Road was originally expected to take 80 weeks to complete.
Mr Pearson said it was ahead of schedule and on target to be completed in less than 80 weeks but with the uncertainty of continuing at the same pace through a Manx winter, he said he could not commit himself to promising an early completion date.
Peel Road has had no major repairs for more than 25 years.
The highways director said it had ‘demonstrably the worst ride quality of any strategic route in the island’, with road surface severely cracked, the concrete slab sub-base having shifted and there being significant subsidence as well as drainage problems.