Work on the £20m development of Douglas Promenade is due to begin this year.

The scheme to replace and repair the current road surface and system is due for completion in the summer of 2021.

Department of Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer has confirmed to the Examiner that preparation work for the major redevelopment of Douglas Promenades will begin in the coming weeks.

Mr Harmer said that while the preparation work will take some time due to the nature of the scheme, he expects the work to step up significantly following the initial stages.

He added that ’where road closures will be necessary, these will likely begin in the new year’ and that ’the scheme is still on target for completion in September 2021’.

The plans are arguably the biggest works programme that residents of Douglas have ever seen.

Isle of Man Newspapers has previously reported that plans to revamp the promenade have undergone a number of false starts as different schemes were proposed.

The total final cost of the scheme, including the money already spent on the completed phase one of the project, works out at about £24.7m.

If planning approval is provided for the scheme, a contractor will be appointed and a detailed construction programme drawn up, about £2.2m was spent on abandoned earlier designs.

Mr Harmer is currently away cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for Cancer Research, for a new Men in Sheds charity in Peel and for Peel Scouts. Further details can be found on his Facebook page, Ray Harmer MHK.