The Department of Infrastructure has ’revisited’ early proposals for the Balthane roundabout after a public consultation earlier this year.

In the House of Keys sitting this week, Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall was asked by Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse for a progress update on the Balthane roundabout in Ballasalla.

The plans originally covered a new signalised junction, or four-way traffic light system, which would replace the mini roundabout at the entrance to Balthane industrial estate.

It was also supposed to connect the planned ’Ballasalla bypass’ between a new roundabout at Glashen Hill, north of the village and part of Dandara’s Reayrt Mie development, and the aforementioned Balthane junction.

Mr Crookall said: ’Following the public consultation held at the end of August, the department’s officers have reviewed the feedback received and have revisited the early proposals for the site.

’The department has been in discussions to remove a restrictive land covenant in order to progress an alternative design to which the landowner has agreed.’

He said the government is in talks with more landowners.

Mr Crookall added: ’Officers have also been in discussion with other landowners about the proposed junctions and will shortly be meeting with the local authority regarding the site.

’The department’s design team is preparing indicative design layouts and the department anticipates being in a position to hold a subsequent public consultation in the next couple of months, following which the department will submit a planning application.’

He added that capital funding has been requested and, if successful, construction will commence in 2023/24.

’It will go to consultation locally down in Ballasalla. A budget submission has been made to Treasury this year so that hopefully will get into the book for next year,’ the minister said.

The bypass is aimed at easing traffic flow through Ballasalla and should make journeys from the south of the island quicker.

The government had said it would revise the previous plans for the £1.9 million after residents raised concerns about congestion and queues from the airport at a meeting in August of this year when it put the scheme on display.