Two-way traffic returns to Douglas Promenades next week - in a move that will be welcomed by businesses and commuters.

It will also mean an end to the controversial changes to the road lay-out on Glencrutchery Road including the combined bus/cycle lane.

But while the Summer Hill junction will open as planned on Tuesday (September 8), the Broadway junction will now stay shut until the end of October.

Douglas Promenade has been one-way since June 15 as part of a push to complete most of the £25m redevelopment scheme by the end of March 2021.

The Department of Infrastructure claims that the prom is reverting to two-way traffic three months earlier than expected. But in fact this had initially been the plan.

MyProm announced in June that the one-way system from Victoria Street through to Summer Hill would be in place until the end of the school summer holidays.

But by July 29, MrProm advised that the southern half of the prom between Victoria Street and Broadway would remain one-way until December .

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker said: ’We are delighted that Summer Hill will reopen next week.

’We have listened to the businesses and residents and are confident that, by reinstating the two-way traffic much earlier than planned, we will make life much easier for them all.’

’While opening Broadway is important, the benefit of reinstating two-way traffic flow along the whole of promenade was considered much more significant.

’We will continue to monitor all traffic management whilst progressing with the programme.’

He added: ’The contractor and the department continue to make good progress on the refurbishment scheme, but we are being flexible in our approach to making changes to traffic management if it provides support for businesses and residents who live and work along the promenade.’

The DoI said it had worked with contractor Auldyn Construction to reinstate two-way traffic following ’positive consultation and discussions with businesses’.

It said businesses had agreed that having two-way traffic flow along the full length of the promenades would give much better access than opening Broadway.

Reopening of the Summer Hill junction on time next week will allow traffic to travel south on the promenade either down Summer Hill or along King Edward Road.

As traffic from the north will no longer be concentrated on Glencrutchery Road, Governor’s Dip will return to its original layout on Tuesday.

The changes in the diversion routes will also see the removal of the temporary bus/bike lane at the St Ninian’s crossroads.

Loch Promenade walkway will continue to be used for vehicles with additional traffic and pedestrian barriers in place.

The full length of the promenade will continue to be subject to a 20mph speed limit. Exit from the walkway will be at the Snack Shack café (formerly the TT café) just to the north of the Bottleneck car park.

Pedestrian access will be maintained along the promenade walkway with the exception of a short section on Harris Promenade, where a pedestrian diversion route will run in front of the Villa Marina.

Traffic lights will also be in place, for a distance of about 120 metres, between Castle Mona Avenue and The Esplanade.

Disabled parking and loading bays on the walkway will also remain, and more parking will become available on the northern end.

Traffic will continue to access the promenades via Victoria Street for the foreseeable future.

These changes will allow Auldyn Construction the opportunity to complete the works at the Broadway junction, including the decommissioning of the old 400mm cast iron gas main, in a more efficient way.

It will be opened to traffic by the end October, seven weeks later than planned.

Church Road Marina is unaffected by these changes and will reopen as planned in mid-November.