THE government has identified £84 million of roadworks that need to be carried out.

But the total figure could be even higher.

In 2015, engineers carried out surveys covering 285 out of the 683 miles of road in the island, including all primary and strategic routes, and identified necessary work.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said: ’The total amount of work identified for the highways is some £84m.’

The surveys revealed 24.5 miles of road foundations that needed reconstruction, at a cost of £69 million.

Of the roads surveyed, 13 per cent ’should be considered for maintenance in the short-term’, Mr Harmer said. Those roads could be resurfaced at a cost of £8.3 million.

He added: ’Following a commitment to improve residential areas, the department’s specialist staff have almost completed an Island-wide survey of residential roads.

’This has identified work which could potentially be up to a value of £6.9M.

’Funding of £475,000 has been approved in the current financial year for a programme of residential road resurfacing. This will be focused on improving the built environment and road quality in local estates. ’

The minister added: ’Currently the Department is spending £1.6M on reconstruction and £150,000 on resurfacing works per year. A further £260,000 is spent on maintenance and surface dressing.’

The Budget spending plans reveal investment of £64 million over the next five years, which includes £18.3 million for Douglas promenade.

Mr Harmer gave the figures in a written answer to a Tynwald question last week. He has previously told the House of Keys that the cost of meeting the entire backlog of roadworks required would probably come to more than £120 million.