Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker has defended the number of temporary traffic lights encountered on commuter routes.

In the House of Keys last week, Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) criticised the level of disruption faced by motorists.

He called for improvements in the decision-making process that leads to temporary lights being used on commuter routes, adding: ’Last month on the A5 between Castletown and Douglas, there were four sets of temporary lights.

’They effectively doubled the journey time and the environmental impact of those journeys.’

Mr Baker agreed there was always room for improvement.

However, he added: ’To suggest that those temporary traffic lights were perhaps not there for good reason is mistaken.

’There are an awful lot of things going on, on our Island’s road network, partly as a result of the Covid disruption, as a result of the economic activity, which is great to see is happening as vigorously as it is at the moment.’

Turning specifically to the route from Castletown to Douglas, Mr Baker said: ’Highway officers made a judgement and did not put on hold the major housing developments in Ballasalla and Castletown.

’They did not stop the roll-out of the fibre network that government is trying to accelerate, and they decided not to stop safety critical work on Richmond Hill.

He added: ’Some may feel that those decisions did not suit their own personal circumstances, and there was a knock-on impact on the commuters’ journey times.

’However, if there was no investment in the Isle of Man I am sure the roads would be an awful lot quieter.’

He acknowledged the inconvenience caused but said travellers could make ’reasonable adjustments’, such as staggering journey times or taking alternative routes.