Work to improve the island’s Heritage Trail has been delayed due to public interference, the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) has said.

The route was expected to reopen last week after staff finished cutting grass verges along the trail.

However, the path will now remain shut for another week due to delays caused by people ‘ignoring’ the trail closure signs.

Contractors were forced to halt the planned work repeatedly after members of the public entered closed sections of the trail, causing delays to the planned schedule of work.

Work has so far progressed as far as Kerroo Garrow Road inGreeba, with the section west of this point now complete.

However, in order to finish the remaining section of the trail, sections of the route will close again this week until the end of Saturday, October 5.

The Heritage Trail was opened-up to residents over the weekend and on Monday, September 30 during a break in the work.

But incremental closures along the trail will resume on Tuesday, October 1, starting from Kerroo Garrow Road, moving eastwards toward Braddan.

During these times, the department says that the closures will be enforced with clear signage in place along the route.

Ahead of the work resuming, a spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise urged people to adhere to the trail closure signs.

‘Please do not pass through these signs, as every time someone does, work has to stop and delays ensue,’ a spokesperson said.

The closures will only be in effect during working hours, from 9:30am to 4pm, while contractors are on-site.

Outside of these hours, the trail will remain open for members of the public to use.

The DoI has urged residents to respect the safety measures in place and allow contractors to complete the job as efficiently as possible and to minimise further disruption.