Road closure outside sports centre extended

The closure of a section of a busy through road in the Isle of Man's capital for drainage works has been extended by two months.

Groves Road was shut between the entrance and exit of the National Sports Centre (NSC) on 7 November and was set to reopen on 21 January.

However, the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) said that due to "tougher ground conditions than anticipated" the works had to be extended to 15 March.

The works, which involve the installation of new gullies, come after it was identified that the existing drainage would not be sufficient in the event of extreme weather events.

The project, which is being carried out by Paul Carey and Sons on behalf of the department, includes the excavation and resurfacing of the carriageway, as well as the addition of more accessible bus curbs, and the refurbishment of the road crossing and bus stop.

The DoI said tougher ground conditions included an area of rock that needed to be excavated for the new pipe to be laid.

Telecommunication ducts were also in a "different position than they were expected to be" and had to be moved, it added.

In April, heavy rainfall caused the levels of the River Douglas to rise prompting the NSC to close to put up flood defences.

Bus diversions for routes servicing the south of the island will remain in place throughout the period.

Bus services from the island's capital to Port Erin, have alternative stops in place at the Douglas Golf Club and at the Springfield Avenue junction, with the routes diverted to Alder Road, Springfield Road and onto the Old Castletown Road.

From Port Erin to Douglas, services have been diverted via Quarterbridge and Peel Road, with alternative stops at Harcroft Meadows and Peel Road.

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