Four-week closure of Isle of Man Mountain Road begins

BBC News

02-04-2025

A month-long closure of a large part of the mountain section of the Isle of Man TT course for resurfacing and preparatory works ahead of the 2025 races is set to begin.A 3.5 mile (5.7 km) stretch of the A18 Mountain Road is to be shut between the Bungalow and the Creg Ny Baa until 26 April.The ban on traffic for works by the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) will be extended to also include a closure to Ramsey Hairpin from 14 to 17 April.The road is the main route used by commuter traffic between the north of the island and the capital.
That closure had been due to start on 31 March but was pushed back to 2 April due to weather delays to drainage and resurfacing works on a western section of the TT course near Glen Helen.As well as surfacing work, the DOI said it would be excavating the road to "replace collapsed stone culverts" below the carriageway between Keppel Gate and Kate's Cottage.The current water channels did not "operate at capacity" and were causing issues with surface water in the area, which increased the risk of ice and "hazardous winter driving conditions", the department said.
Works were being carried out during the spring as the winter weather was "detrimental to resurfacing work".It also meant the work could be completed before the TT races in June and the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT in August, the DOI said.
Although the works have been scheduled to be completed by 26 April, the department has a contingency closure order until 2 May if the project is hit by delays.A contingency has also been put in place for the northern section of the Mountain Road following the Easter weekend between 22 and 26 April.
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