Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer has defended the recent roadworks at Richmond Hill.

Motorists using the Castletown Road have put up numerous roadworks over the years and encountered more disruption in recent weeks, while work was carried out at Richmond Hill.

Rushen MHK Juan Watterson tabled a written Tynwald question demanding to know why the road needed resurfacing.

In his response, Mr Harmer said: ’Richmond Hill is being surface-dressed, not resurfaced.

’Richmond Hill was reconstructed in 2010 and surface-dressing is part of the designed preventative maintenance programme for the road.

’It will be resurfaced after approximately 25 years. Repeating this pattern of maintenance will ensure that the road exceeds its 40-year design life.’

The minister said surface-dressing was ’one of the most cost-effective forms of highway maintenance’.