Lighting will be installed next week on the former railway line between Gardeners Lane and Poyll Dooey Road in Ramsey.

The path, which was resurfaced last summer, has been designated a shared pedestrian and cycle route and has already proved popular with residents in the town.

As part of the Department of Infrastructure scheme, the path is to be fitted with low-level, low-voltage lighting, to encourage year-round early morning, evening and night time use. This lighting will operate on movement sensors to increase their energy efficiency.

The LED lights will be installed on 40 lighting posts, each 1.5 metres (just shy of 5 feet) high.

The DoI have said this will ensure that the environmental impact is kept to a minimum and light intrusion into pathside properties will not be an issue.

The conduit for this lighting was installed during the construction of the path. Due to the effect of the Covid pandemic on the manufacturer’s delivery schedules there was a significant delay on the arrival of the lighting columns.

The scheme’s main contractor, Paul Carey & Sons Ltd will be re-mobilising to site later this week, with installation works starting on Monday (January 10). Manx Utilities will be working with the contractor on commissioning the lights.

The path will remain accessible to walkers and cyclists at all times whilst this work is underway, with work sites being secured by temporary fencing.

It is anticipated that lighting installation will be completed by mid-February.