Minister Cretney: Road maintenance will take priority

Infrastructure Minister David Cretney made a pledge in the House of Keys this morning that road maintenance will take priority over capital schemes.

A number of strategic maintenance schemes are in the pipeline, estimated to cost roughly £4.7 million this year.

The question came from new Douglas South MHK Kate Beecroft.

The minister drew attention to the slow deterioration of the roads each year and said this would take about £6 million of annual spending to eradicate this.

He said a total overhaul of the whole road network would cost around £100 million, an unfeasible amount given the current financial climate.

Last year the Department's budget took a hit when having to deal with the damage left by the severe ice and snow.