The Department has been working hard over the last few weeks to repair damage to the highway network caused by the unexpected severe weather conditions in March. Repairs and maintenance work to the TT course were delayed because of the weather but are now almost complete. In addition the Department has been busy delivering all the barriers and signs necessary to allow the organisers to close the roads for the racing. Over the last few days the Mountain Road has been closed to allow repairs to be carried out and for signage to be set up for the usual one way system which will be in place for the whole of the TT fortnight.
The Mountain Road will be closed again on Friday 24th May to allow the 1 way coning and signs to be deployed and will reopen as a one way road from Ramsey to Douglas at 16:30 on Friday 24th May. The one way system will remain in place until 9:30 on Monday 10th June when the road will close again for the day so that the equipment can be removed. The road will then re-open at 16:30 on Monday 10th June to normal two way traffic. Motorists are asked to drive carefully on the one-way Mountain Road, to comply with the posted speed limits, avoiding excessive speeds on derestricted sections and showing consideration for other road users.
In order to minimise disruption to the travelling public, new measures are being put in place this year during race week to ensure that roads will be opened to traffic between 17:00 and 18:00 on race days. This measure will give the public more certainty about when they will be able to travel and allow people living on or inside the course to get home from work. This will apply on every race day or postponed race day with the exception of Senior Race day (Friday 7th June). On Senior Race Day the roads will close earlier than usual with the mountain road closing at 9:00 and the rest of the course at 9:30 this will allow the race programme to get started earlier to give a better chance of all events being completed before 17:00. Whilst the intention is to re-open the road between 17.00 and 18.00, if racing is delayed until later in the day the organisers have flexibility to change the opening times and announcements will be made confirming arrangements if this happens. The Department hopes that the Public will understand the benefits in having a more flexible approach to Senior Race day when disruption to traffic is likely to be less as it is a Public Holiday.
Drivers should be aware that the Mountain Road section will remain closed between 17:00 and 18:00 and this will be from Barrule Park, Ramsey to Johnny Watterson Lane, Onchan. Access will not be available to the Creg-ny-Baa or the Creg-ny-Baa Back Road.
In the run up to TT and throughout the event many visitors and many extra motorcyclists will be using the roads. At the same time residents will continue about their day to day activities. Please drive carefully, expect the unexpected and keep your speed down.
For detailed information on road closures please telephone 685888.
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