Ministry Warns Motorists After Heavy Rain
The Ministry of Public Works and Environment is “advising motorists to exercise increased caution on the roads following several days of heavy rainfall, which has contributed to the emergence of additional potholes and other surface deterioration in some areas.”
A Government spokesperson said, “Periods of sustained rainfall can weaken road surfaces, particularly on older stretches of roadway, resulting in hazards that may not be immediately visible to drivers.
“Motorists are urged to remain alert, reduce speed, and exercise patience while travelling, especially during periods of ongoing or recent rainfall.
“The Ministry’s road maintenance crews are actively monitoring conditions and will address potholes and other road defects as weather conditions permit. Ongoing rain can limit the ability to carry out permanent repairs safely and effectively; however, teams will respond as soon as conditions allow.
“The Ministry encourages motorists to take the following precautions:
- Reduce speed to maintain control on wet or uneven road surfaces
- Increase following distance to allow additional reaction time
- Remain alert for standing water, debris, or sudden changes in road conditions
“Residents may continue to report pothole sightings by emailing potholes@gov.bm with details of the location. The Ministry remains committed to improving road conditions across the Island and thanks the public for their patience and cooperation as crews work to address weather-related impacts.”
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Basic infrastructure is falling apart. Sheer neglect and incompetence.
“The Ministry’s road maintenance crews are actively monitoring conditions and will address potholes and other road defects as weather conditions permit.”
I think that should read “The Ministry’s road maintenance crews are actively monitoring conditions and will address potholes and other road defects as weather conditions AND BUDGET ALLOCATION permit.”
Am I the only one who remembers what Lt. Col. Burch said about why our road conditions are the way they are?
Water causes potholes. Traffic blasting water at pressure into crevaces of poorly fixed potholes causes potholes to reopen in no time.
Wat is it with W&E that they can’t fix potholes properly?
We don’t have snow. We don’t have ice. We don’t have heavy vehicles. We don’t have the speed blasting water into the holes. W&E employees drive the same roads as the rest of us. They know where the potholes are. Potholes that should be repaired in days are weeks, months before W&E gets around to fixing them, even on the busiest roads.
Anyone who does any driving in the US or Canada will have seen how potholes should be fixed. Blow out the loose material with air. Fill the pothole with a fine asphalt. Seal that asphalt with a waterproof coating. To prevent potholes before a little job becomes a big job, apply sealer to cracks as soon as they appear and prevent the water from eroding the surface in the first place.
Never seen the sealer used anywhere in Bermuda. W&E must want to justify their existence by letting a little problem become a big problem before doing anything about it.
“Wat is it with W&E that they can’t fix potholes properly?”
As Lt. Col. Burch said before he retired, the neglect of our roads is down to funds being used for other things (like concerts) rather than necessary maintenance for over 20 years.