Roadworks on Foxdale’s main road will not be completed until the middle of August.

The Department of Infrastructure’s (DoI) have confirmed that temporary resurfacing will take place to allow the road to open for TT fortnight but that it will then close again, on Monday, June 12, for the scheme to be completed.

A new road closure order will be in operation from today (Monday) until Friday, May 26, so that work can progress up to Foxdale filling station.

The work is taking place to reconstruct the main road through Higher Foxdale, to improve drainage and upgrade the utilities infrastructure.

The original start date was delayed seven weeks last autumn to accommodate important changes to the layout of the Mines Road junction.

A DoI spokesman said: ’The department has tried to recover this time, but additional unplanned work - including the demolition of dangerous retaining walls, the removal of trees at Brookfield Terrace and changes to the installation of essential utilities - has resulted in a revision to the timetable.

’Recent poor weather has also forced the construction team to re-excavate part of the drainage trench, re-lay a section of storm water pipe and install a new land drain to divert run-off away from the site.

’Despite the challenges encountered, the scheme has been proceeding on two fronts simultaneously - from the Mines Road junction heading south to Costain’s Yard, and from Dove Cottage, working back to the filling station.’

Work to date is said to include: excavation and removal of more than 8,000 tonnes of material; importation and placing of more than 4,000 tonnes of unbound material; laying of more than 500 metres of highway drainage; construction of 10 manholes; construction of 30 road gullies; installation of 500m of telecom ducting; installation of 500m of new water main and service connections; installation of 500m of new gas main; more than 3,000 square metres of carriageway reconstruction; 350m of kerbing; 350 square metres of footway reconstruction; 90m of retaining walls; and placing of more than 500 tonnes of concrete.

David Anderson MLC, department member for Highway Services, said: ’This scheme was originally scheduled to start immediately after the 2016 Festival of Motorcycling. However, an opportunity arose to acquire the land necessary to carry out major changes to the Mines Road junction.

’This has greatly improved the layout for motorists, but added almost two months to the pre-construction programme.

’While our team has pulled out all the stops to try to make up this time, it was always likely that the timetable would extend beyond the TT.’

He added: ’The main road will reopen on a temporary basis for TT fortnight and then close again to allow the remaining work to take place from the filling station to Mines Road.

’We are now looking at a completion date towards the middle of August.

’I wish to thank local residents and businesses for their continued patience and cooperation.

’People have been extremely understanding and realistic about the challenges faced on a job of this scale.’