The leader of the island’s biggest local authority has branded proposals to build flyovers and tunnels around the TT course as ’ludicrous’.

David Christian was speaking at November’s Douglas Council sitting after Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker told the House of Keys that six options had been identified for crossing the TT course.

Three of these involved widening and extending the existing route but three alternatives had been considered which Mr Baker accepted were ’clearly quite radical’.

One of these was a new flyover from the roundabout at Saddle Road through forested land crossing the TT course adjacent to Braddan Bridge and joining the A23 Braddan Road at a new junction south of Braddan cemetery.

A second option would be an underpass connecting the police headquarters access road with Greenfield Road and a third would be an underpass at St Ninian’s crossroads connecting Ballanard Road with Ballaquayle Road.

During the council sitting, Mr Christian said the ideas were ’pie in the sky’ thinking that would cost taxpayers millions of pounds, but he said he doubts they will come to fruition.

He added: ’To spend that kind of money with the troubles we have on this island is ludicrous. It is four weeks a year, if they want to improve the situation, they should widen the existing access road.’

Responding to questions from Councillors Andrew Bentley and Ian Clague, Mr Christian said he was ’amazed’ by the DoI’s recent decision to withdraw its application for a replacement pedestrian bridge over Glencrutchery Road.

While saying it is a matter for the department, Mr Christian said the scheme had gone from ’very much needed to now not at all’ without much explanation from the department.

When the application was withdrawn, a DoI spokesman said: ’A planning application to replace the footbridge near the TT Grandstand has been withdrawn as it is not required for the safe operation of the Isle of Man TT or Festival of Motorcycling.

’The decision was also influenced by the availability of a footbridge nearby at St Ninian’s crossroads.’