Major improvement works to Creg-ny-Baa corner are to be carried out but not until after the TT is over.

In the meantime that section of the road is to be patched to ensure it is fit for racing when the TT festival begins on May 27.

Clerk of the course Gary Thompson said rigorous checking of the course was being done and a number of areas were being patched but the heavy snowfall seemed to have done relatively little lasting damage.

‘There will be some patching at Creg-ny-Baa and then once the TT is over there will be some more resurfacing done,’ he said.

He added the course inspection officer Shaun Counsell had been checking the road and resurfacing had also been requested at Braddan and at Bedstead where the surface had become polished.

Potentially the biggest worry was the damage caused to fences and security of livestock where heavy drifts, particularly on the mountain had destroyed fencing and allowed animals to escape from fields.

Time has also been spent clearing debris and fallen trees from the area between Cronk-y-Voddy and Kirk Michael – one of the worst snow affected sections of the course apart from the mountain.


Resurfacing

Time has also been spent renewing black and white paint on kerb stones and resurfacing in the braking area between Bircham Avenue and Parliament Square in Ramsey is also being completed.

Inspections with former TT winner Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle have confirmed weather damage is less than was feared, he said.

The Department of Infrastructure has said major improvements will be carried out to the Creg-ny-Baa corner in the autumn.

These will involve removing the worn shellgrip road surface and replacing it with standard surfacing. In addition the camber round the bend is to be improved.

Director of highways Richard Pearson said this would compensate for the removal of the shellgrip, which is prone to wearing out quickly, and may even see corner speeds at that point increase.

It suggested the improved camber could also have the added benefit of increased safety for spectators at that point. Whether the work would be completed over three weeks with just an off-peak daytime road closure or over two weeks with a complete closure is still being decided.

Work scheduled to be done at Ramsey Hairpin and elsewhere on the mountain may be completed at the same time to minimise the disruption to drivers using the mountain road.

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