Regeneration of the main route out of the centre of Douglas is behind schedule, but will be completed by TT, the Department of Infrastructure has said.

The final phase of the Lower Douglas regeneration scheme in Lord Street and Market Hill began in September and was due to take seven monthsy.

The DoI has confirmed the scheme is about eight weeks behind schedule.

The scheme links the Gaiety Theatre area with the bars and restaurants of the Douglas marina through the island’s main shopping and retail zone.

Market Hill is being fully reconstructed, however after opposition from businesses and the Manx Legion, has not been pedestrianised.

The Lord Street and Victoria Street pedestrian crossing is also being modernised.

A DoI spokesman said: ’The works on Lord Street/Market Hill are progressing well and are being undertaken on two fronts by two teams of workers reconstructing the road and footways.

’Bad weather has caused some delays and the workforce also found several buried cellar lights in the footways, which had to be sealed and capped off.

’Originally due for completion in April, the latest schedule shows that the scheme will be completed by the end of May, before the start of the TT.’

During the works, Lord Street has become one-way in an outbound direction from the roundabout to Ridgeway Street and inbound traffic has been diverted on to North Quay at Ridgeway Street.

Douglas councillor Andrew Bentley had called for the road to remain one-way after the works have finished.

Mr Bentley told local democracy reporter Ewan Gawne that the change to one-way had ’worked well’.

He said the closure had led to less traffic, less pollution, and a better environment for those living along Coronation Terrace, without causing any ’significant’ problems.

As part of the scheme, cycle stands and a water bottle filling station (a tap) will be installed outside Market Hall.