17,500 tonnes of tarmac will be used to redevelop Douglas Promenade.

That's according to the Department of Infrastructure which says 12,000 square metres of block paving and 9,500 units of kerbing will also be required.

The project will take up to three years to complete and will see the highway reconstructed, the horse tram tracks replaced and improvements to footways, drainage, junctions and crossings.

Work is expected to start in September and will cost ?25 million.

Minister Ray Harmer says: "This will be the Isle of Man's most important capital project for some time.

"To help people visualise what's involved, if we laid out the aggregate, concrete, paving and tarmac it would cover an area equivalent to more than 263 Premiership football pitches.

"This scheme will dramatically improve the state of the Promenade and provide a major boost to the Isle of Man economy, in particular the construction industry.

"A significant portion of the contract value, including virtually all the labour and haulage, will be supplied by the private sector."

A traffic management plan will be put in place to minimise disruption whilst the work is taking place by maintaining two-way travel wherever possible.