Further delay to bypass roundabout construction

Construction of a roundabout connecting a new housing estate to a main road in the south the Isle of Man has been pushed back further.

A project to build the four-arm roundabout at Balthane Junction, designed to connect the new Ballasalla bypass to the main road through the village, was due to begin in September.

The works were initially held up by coal tar in the existing carriageway.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall said with an additional £600,000 needed for the works, they were not likely to begin until the 2027-28 financial year.

He told the House of Keys approval had been obtained for the temporary storage and processing of coal tar at a site at Turkey Lands, with that treatment set to cost about £400,000 beyond the original budget.

Crookall said the overall cost of the roundabout was now estimated to be about £2.1m, which was "well in excess" of the original figure and the department would need to have approval for before the scheme could be put out for tender.

Initially due to be completed in 2026, the start of the project was then moved to September due to issues dealing with the toxic substance.

The minister said he was "disappointed" it could not now start as planned this year but warned the price could rise further.

Work on the housing estate itself began in late 2019, with revised plans for the junction revealed in 2022 following concerns from residents over potential congestion.

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