Mountain Road reopens after five-week closure

The Keppel Gate section of the road has been resurfaced

The major route that connects the Manx capital with the north of the Isle of Man has reopened after a five-week closure for drainage and resurfacing works.

The A18 Mountain Road closed from Brandywell to the Creg Ny Baa in mid-September and was originally due to reopen last week.

However the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) said line painting and reflective stud installation would not be completed over the weekend because of "logistical constraints".

The DOI confirmed that the road had now reopened, two days earlier than planned.

Work in the Kate's Cottage and Keppel Gate areas, just south of Windy Corner, included the installation of two water culverts, the raising of roadside water channels, and resurfacing.

The DOI has thanked the public "for their patience whilst these works have been under way".

It said it would release some pictures in the coming days to "give a clearer picture of the extent of the works which were undertaken and why they were necessary".

The project was originally planned to be carried out in April, but was postponed after a breakdown at the department's asphalt plant.