Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to update this Honourable House, and the people of Bermuda, on the progress this Government is making to restore, strengthen, and modernise Bermuda’s roads.
Mr. Speaker, the condition of our roads has become one of the most talked-about issues throughout our island. Our people have been clear that they want action, not excuses, and this Government is delivering just that.
While others offer commentary from the sidelines, this administration is pouring asphalt, rebuilding foundations, and progressing forward with the most consistent road-repaving effort Bermuda has seen in years.
Mr. Speaker, over the past twelve months, alone, our teams have been working hard.
We began in the West End, completing long-overdue retaining wall repairs along Somerset Road and fully resurfacing both lanes from Scaur Hill to George’s Bay, representing the first time in decades residents have seen this level of investment along that corridor.
Immediately after, we advanced along Middle Road in Southampton, resurfacing the section from George’s Bay to Evans Bay. For thousands of daily commuters, the difference was immediate and noticeable.
Mr. Speaker, after reaching Evans Bay, our teams then crossed the island, to the East, repaving Mullet Bay, from York Street right through to Ferry Reach Road, finishing just in time for Cup Match and easing congestion during one of the busiest periods of the year.
From there, we continued major works on Middle Road in Smiths and on North Shore Road, repaving from Bethel Church through Flatts Village toward Jennings Road. It should be noted that along the way, the team encountered minor issues at several locations requiring temporary skips. But rather than slowing down, we pushed forward, addressing the issues while continuing to pave. That is the hallmark of a Ministry focused on delivery and not delay.
These are not isolated road patches, Mr. Speaker. These are connected corridors of safer, smoother, more reliable infrastructure that Bermudians rely upon every single day.
Mr. Speaker, as our major paving works progressed, this Government also advanced a series of critical road-safety upgrades, because we recognise that smoother roads mean little if they are not safe.
This year we installed new traffic beacons at key pedestrian crossings, including Mullet Bay, Point Finger Road, and Somerset Village. We also installed new speed bumps in several communities, including Spice Hill, Brighton Hill, and Parsons Road. In the weeks to come our team will be introducing similar traffic-calming measures along Church Road in Southampton and Old Military Road in St. George’s. These locations were not only highlighted by residents but were also validated through technical reviews carried out by our road-safety team, which confirmed visibility challenges, pedestrian risk, and traffic-flow concerns.Mr. Speaker, these are areas where our children walk, where seniors cross, and where families have long expressed legitimate concerns. Residents have shared their gratitude because they feel both heard and better protected.
Mr. Speaker, it is also not lost on me the raised concerns residents have regarding the faint, and sometimes non-existent, centre line. Our team has received the necessary parts for our existing centre line machine and will begin that work shortly while at the same time we are preparing to order a brand-new marking machine for the future.
Mr. Speaker, as we close out the year, I feel it is important to emphasize that our Ministry is preparing for an aggressive start to 2026. This week we conducted essential maintenance on all asphalt equipment, while providing essential equipment training with our partners at Astec.
Next week we expect to complete the final stretch of paving on the western end of North Shore Road which will be our last major paving operation for the year. Over the holiday period, our remaining team will be prioritizing our pothole response.
Mr. Speaker, the first quarter of 2026 will be one of the most productive in recent memory.
We will recommence our paving efforts in early January with a critical section of North Shore Road near the Aquarium and complete the areas we skipped in Smith’s including Middle Road near the Somerville Wall at Store Hill.
Mr. Speaker, then, in late February and into the spring, we will shift to Southampton, paving along Middle Road from Lighthouse Road in Southampton, heading east, to Longford Road in Warwick. Following that, we will begin long-awaited works on Spanish Point Road and Palmetto Road, two of the most requested improvements in the country.
Mr. Speaker, to accelerate our progress in 2026, we are also engaging the private sector in the first quarter to pave Orange Valley Road in Devonshire. This partnership approach allows us to stretch taxpayer dollars further and maintain continuity of work across multiple sites.
Mr. Speaker, the work ahead is substantial, but this Government is committed, focused, and delivering results the public can see and feel. Bermudians asked for safer roads, smoother corridors, better visibility, and real investment in infrastructure and this Government is responding.
The work will continue, there is no magic wand that will fix our roads tomorrow, but we will remain steady and accelerate our efforts in 2026, as it reflects our determination to build a stronger, safer, more resilient Bermuda.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.