Changes to 20mph rollout in capital after feedback

The infrastructure minister hopes to have signage erected before Christmas

Changes have been made to the rollout of 20mph (32km/h) zones in the east of the Isle of Man following the results of a consultation.

Feedback for plans to reduce speeds across roads in Douglas and Onchan has been reviewed by a third party company and presented to the Department of Infrastructure, it said.

Sections of three roads will now keep their 30mph (48km/h) limits, and one go down to 20mph, after concerns raised within the 558 responses.

Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood said the changes proved that the department was listening to concerns and could "change their minds" to make sure it was "right".

The department hopes the speed limit rollout will have various benefits to drivers and pedestrians, including reducing incidents and injuries, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, reducing noise and air pollution.

After a review of 28 locations, four have seen alterations to the original plans.

Key changes

Changes have been made to Groves Road, a section of Victoria Road, and Tromode Road in Douglas, and a section of Whitebridge Road in Onchan.

On Groves Road, which runs alongside the National Sports Centre, it will remain a 30mph zone.

Similarly on Victoria Road, the section between Glencrutchery Road to Victoria Crescent will also stay at 30mph.

Tromode Road will also remain at 30mph after review.

However, a section of Whitebridge Road in Onchan, between Windermere Drive to Main Road, will now become 20mph where it was originally due to stay 30mph.

Haywood became the infrastructure minister in November last year, but Tynwald first supported the principle for 20mph speed limits on residential roads in 2020, later renewed in 2023.

Costs

Haywood said the amendments will come at an additional cost of about £10,000, with the overall implementation costs for Douglas and Onchan expected to be £160,000.

These costs would be offset by the reduction in incidents and injuries as a result of the speed changes.

She said: "If you look at the costs of dealing with serious injuries or with deaths on our roads, I only have to avert a couple of serious injuries and downgrade them to slight injuries to save more money than I've spent on this scheme.

"I only need one child's life to be saved and this would have been a cost effective scheme."

A traffic regulation order is being advertised until 28 November when the public can again comment on the proposals.

If no further issues are identified, Haywood hopes to have signs erected across the areas before Christmas.

The timeline to implement the rest of the scheme is to be completed by next summer, the minister said.

There is currently a consultation underway for changes in the south of the island, while surveys covering the north and centre have now ended - the results of which are being analysed.