Cost of TT access road improvement 'huge'

The access road runs between Douglas and Braddan and is opened during race periods

Widening the access road used during the Isle of Man TT races to allow two-way traffic would "cost millions" of pounds, the infrastructure minister has said.

The route runs along the heritage trail between Douglas and Braddan, allowing access to some homes on the inside of the TT course and Noble's Hospital.

Tim Crookall said the structure and surface of the road were "physically okay" to carry vehicles but "too narrow" for two lanes of traffic during road closures.

When asked if the route was "fit for purpose" by John Wannenburgh MHK, the minister admitted it "could be a lot better" but improvement costs would be "huge".

Six options were drafted in 2020 to allow traffic flow between Douglas and Braddan during racing periods, which included an underpass from St Ninian's crossroads, a flyover from Saddle Road, or the widening of the existing route, which runs under Braddan Bridge.

In 2022, the then infrastructure minister Chris Thomas said the proposals could not be progressed as the cost was "beyond realistic expectations of current financing".

'Pinch points'

During Tuesday's House of Key's sitting, Mr Crookall said while the stretch of road was "physically okay for taking cars", it was "just too narrow" in places, which created "pinch points" during race periods.

Mr Crookall said estimates gathered for the "cheapest" approach, which would see improvements to the current access road opened in 1995, "was somewhere in the region of £3m" and other options had a "much bigger" price tag.

He said although there had previously been "talks of fly overs, bridges, tunnels", they would cost "millions of pounds".

The minister also confirmed the road was last inspected in late May as part of the department's routine highway and pre-TT reviews and no defects or sunken manholes had been found.