TT Access Road
| TT Access Road | ||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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| From: | Quarterbridge (SC366762) | |||
| To: | Braddan (SC364771) | |||
| Distance: | 0.6 miles (1 km) | |||
| Meets: | A5, A6 | |||
| Old route now: | A1 | |||
| Highway Authorities | ||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||
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The TT Access Road is a temporary road which is put into use during the TT races on the Isle of Man. It effectively becomes part of the A1, taking traffic under the proper A1 while it is closed for racing. It is the only road connection on the island between the inside and outside of the TT Circuit, and as such can be extremely well used.
The route starts on the A5 a little to the west of Quarterbridge and follows the old railway line north. FOr the rest of the year this is part of the Douglas to Peel heritage trail, one of the islands long distance footpath / cycleways. However, when used for traffic it is closed to pedestrians and cyclists, indeed prosecutions have been made - there are numerous footbridges provided across the course in Douglas. The old trackbed runs alongside the A1, indeed the two are separated by no more than a stone wall, as they head north along the east bank of the River Dhoo to Braddan Bridge. Here the Access Road has to squeeze under the old railway arch, which means there is a height limit on the route. This takes it under the A1. The next section is open to traffic at all times, due to a couple of properties facing on to it, and is also used as a parking area for walkers.
After a short distance, the old railway ahead is gated, and traffic has to turn sharp left to climb the residential River Vale. The first short straight has a centre line, but then a double bend has a single track section, with passing / waiting areas on each corner, followed by a final short two lane straight to reach the A6. Presumably because of this difficult section through the houses, the Access Road is limited to 3.5T weight limit in addition to the height limit.
The Access Road was first brought into use in the 1980s, following the removal of the tracks in the mid 1970s. The exact chronology is uncertain, but it seems that at first the road was little more than a rough track open to traffic on a very limited basis. However. by the 1991 racing season, the road had been properly surfaced and signed.
