The Mountain Road will be open as usual from tomorrow, after maintenance work for the TT was completed ahead of schedule.

A fortnight of peak-hour closures had been due to finish this Sunday, but everything is now back to normal two days earlier than expected.

The Department of Transport recognises the work may have caused some inconveniece to motorists, but Maintenance Manager Alan Hardinge says it was finished considerably quicker, and with much less danger to DoT workers, than if the road had stayed open.

Work carried out included the installation of about 140 sign pole sockets, between Ramsey Hairpin and Creg-ny-Baa, for the TT one-way system; the completion of approximately 350 square metres of carriageway 'patching'; the painting of all roadside kerbs and bridges; the replacement of about 70 'Cats Eyes'; and the removal of 'redundant fencing', between Les Graham's Memorial and the Bungalow.

The much reduced traffic flows also meant the department could install pole sockets and carry out carriageway patching between Creg-ny-Baa and Governor's Bridge.

(Image: File picture of road works between Kate's Cottage and Creg-ny-Baa).