The Infrastructure Minister has confirmed that the cost of externally provided traffic management services has more than doubled in seven years.
It has risen from £10,032 in 2018/19 to £22,562.50 in 2025/26.
The figures were released in response to a written Tynwald question from Jason Moorhouse MHK, who asked for historic and current stock numbers for traffic cones, mobile fencing units and portable traffic lights, as well as the amount spent leasing those items in both years.
No Historic Stock
Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall MHK said the Department could not provide the requested breakdowns. He confirmed that no historic stock records exist for 2019 or 2026, as cones, fencing and portable lights are treated as operational stock and moved or replaced throughout the year.
Current stock includes around 1,750 cones, 1,550 pedestrian barriers, 30 mobile fencing units and 8 portable traffic light units.
On leasing costs, Minister Crookall said the DoI is unable to identify spending on cones, fencing or lights individually because they are supplied as part of wider traffic‑management packages rather than itemised on invoices.
As a result, the only figures available are the total costs of those external services, £10,032 in 2018/19 and £22,562.50 in 2025/26.
He added that the Department could not provide a figure for “other equipment” used by the Highways Division, as such items are often absorbed into broader contract costs and not recorded separately.
The full written answer can be found here.
