IT WILL be almost Christmas before major roadworks in Bowring Road, Ramsey will be completed.
The timescale for the upgrading of the old water and gas mains and improve the telecoms infrastructure has been extended from 12 to 25 weeks, starting on Monday (June 14th).
Bowring Road will be closed to traffic for the majority of the works, with a diversion route past the site of the former Grand Island Hotel via North Shore and Mooragh Promenade.
“Members of the public are rightly annoyed when roads are renewed and then dug up again soon after,” said Minister for Infrastructure, Phil Gawne. “So, I am pleased that the utility companies and the Department of Infrastructure have co-ordinated their activities to stop this happening in Bowring Road.
“I am of course aware that the closure will cause inconvenience but I am confident that the additional work is the right decision for the residents, the people of Ramsey and the travelling public.
“The revised schedule allows us time to work with other areas of Government and outside agencies to complete several necessary jobs at once. Gas main sleeving works, individual gas connections, a water main and telephone ducting will all be installed, and electricity cables will be buried deeper during this period.”
Tests show both the foundation and the surface of the highway have no structural life left; this led to increased patching and a bumpy and badly-shaped road that needs reconstructing. The works will take in the length of Bowring Road from North Shore Road junction to its junction with Jurby Road in three phases; North Shore Road to Windsor Road, Windsor Road to Coburg Road and Coburg Road to Jurby Road.
The Minister added, “For the first two weeks during the gas main sleeving, traffic lights will be in place. After that, the road will be closed to traffic as it will become too narrow during works to continue to allow through traffic using signals.
“However, we will maintain pedestrian access for residents on Bowring Road, and vehicular access restrictions for residents will only be during the phase directly outside their property. The Emergency Services will have 24-hour access to properties for the duration of the closure.’
The diversion routes for through traffic are:
• Northbound – right into North Shore Road, left along Mooragh Promenade, along Vollan Crescent, left onto Bride Road, left onto Andreas Road, along Bowring Road, and then right into Jurby Road.
• Southbound – left into Bowring Road, along Andreas Road, right into Bride Road, right onto Vollan Crescent, along Mooragh Promenade, right into North Shore Road, left onto Bowring Road.
Reconstruction will take place on one side of the road at a time in each phase. This will involve removing existing road surface; excavating material underneath down to the required level; digging trenches for utilities to install/move their services; backfilling trenches, renewing/installing surface water drainage pipes and gullies; putting in a 225mm stone foundation; renewing kerbing and footway, plus new telecom ducting in southbound footway; laying three layers of tarmac, total thickness 240mm; painting white lines.
During the scheme, temporary 7.5-tonne weight limit orders will be in place on Clifton Road and Ash Grove to prevent large vehicles travelling through these residential streets. A temporary off-road parking area will be installed near Ramsey Football Club on North Shore Road, to allow on-street parking to be suspended on North Shore Road and assist traffic flow along that road. The reserved parking place on North Shore Road for the RNLI crew will be relocated to the temporary parking area.
Minister Gawne added, “We have held discussions with the residents of Bowring Road and other stakeholders and kept them informed. We realise the works will cause inconvenience, both for the residents and other motorists who use the road regularly, but I’m sure the public will realise the necessity of the works and I thank them in advance for their understanding. A separate leaflet will be distributed to residents shortly.
“The speed of the programme is mainly determined by the time it takes to do the utility renewal work; however, our Works Division Team is endeavouring to find ways to shorten the programme and if it is possible they will.”
