Minister Updates On Swing Bridge, Paving, More
“I rise today to provide this Honourable House and the people of Bermuda with a comprehensive update on the Ministry of Public Works and Environment’s road paving programme, and to advise of a necessary adjustment to our sequencing as we advance critical infrastructure works across the island,” Minister of Public Works and Environment Jache Adams said in the House of Assembly.
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide this Honourable House and the people of Bermuda with a comprehensive update on the Ministry of Public Works and Environment’s road paving programme, and to advise of a necessary adjustment to our sequencing as we advance critical infrastructure works across the island.
Mr. Speaker, this Government has been clear that improving the condition of our roads remains a national priority. Our road network is essential to daily life in Bermuda. It supports our residents travelling to work and school, our businesses moving goods and services, and our visitors experiencing all that our island has to offer. We have continued our road paving programmes across the island with works at Orange Valley Road in Devonshire, Middle Road in Smith’s & North Shore Road near Flatts being recently completed.
However, responsible governance requires not only planning, but adaptability.
We are extremely proud to say that the Request for Proposals for the replacement Swing Bridge will soon be released in the impending weeks. As such, it has become necessary to strategically redeploy our paving teams to make preparation for this project. This decision is grounded in sound project management. Major infrastructure works of this scale require careful coordination so that supporting road networks, staging areas, and traffic routes are properly prepared in advance.
Accordingly, works will be scheduled for the Swing Bridge detour routes via Number One Gate, Kindley Field Park, St. David’s Road, Wallast Point Road and the Southside Road area. These preparatory works are essential to accommodate heavy equipment, facilitate construction staging, support traffic diversions, and safeguard public safety once bridge construction begins. By acting now, we will reduce the risk of delays and ensure that the bridge project proceeds in an orderly and efficient manner.
Mr. Speaker, before those works commence, community consultation will take place to ensure residents and stakeholders are informed and afforded the opportunity to provide feedback. We recognize that roadworks affect daily routines, and we are committed to engaging openly and providing timely communication so that the public is aware of what to expect.
In the interim Mr. Speaker, paving currently underway in the Flatts Village area near the Aquarium will be completed to minimize disruption and maintain continuity for residents and businesses. Upon completion in Flatts, the team will undertake full resurfacing of Spanish Point Road, a heavily trafficked corridor whose condition warrants comprehensive attention to ensure a uniform and durable finish.
Thereafter, crews will transition to Kindley Field Park to begin the necessary preparation works in direct support of the Swing Bridge project. This proactive sequencing ensures that once the bridge contract is awarded, construction can advance without avoidable setbacks related to site readiness.
Following this phase, works will move west to Southampton, paving along Middle Road beginning at Lighthouse Road and extending eastward to Longford Road in Warwick. At this time, the BELCO trenching work will have reached the railway trail and will no longer interrupt traffic. This stretch of roadway is a critical corridor serving residents, commuters, public transportation, and the tourism sector. Improving this route will materially enhance driving conditions and safety in the western parishes.
Finally, the programme will progress to Palmetto Road, one of Bermuda’s the heavily used roads. Addressing its full resurfacing aligns with our strategy of targeting high traffic area that have experienced sustained wear and deterioration.
Mr. Speaker, this updated sequencing reflects prudent planning and careful coordination between routine road improvements and a major capital project of national importance. The people of Bermuda expect safer, smoother roads. They expect infrastructure projects to be managed efficiently and delivered responsibly. And they expect transparency about our plans and progress.
This Government remains committed to meeting those expectations and to laying a strong and sustainable foundation for Bermuda’s future.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It will cost an estimated $60+ MILLION (and increasing daily) just to upgrade 50% of our roads to handle the extra weight from the fleet of electric buses, Minister’s EVs, current & future EVs, and the Government’s pie-in-the-sky vision of going all-in on EVs.
I see NO mention anywhere, unless I missed it, where the government has acknowledged the increased costs to maintain roads due to EVs. I see NO mention anywhere, unless I missed it, where the government has acknowledged how it will make up for the fuel tax losses from EVs.
When he says there are “adjustments to our sequencing”, what he really means is that there are more unacceptable delays and excuses.
Priorities rule. Today it was the car park at the Aquarium! Very crucial.
No mention either of replacing the temporary, been there 23 years, Longbird bridge on the Causeway. A terrible sight for our visitors, but as there are so few maybe that’s why it’s not replaced. Yet it has to be the simplest of the 2 as most of the infrastructure is still there to tie into a new bridge.
“adjustments to our sequencing” Looks like a phrase taken right from “Yes Minister”. Civil service gobbledygook for “we don’t know when or if we will get to it”.
“we don’t know when or if we will get to it”
Bite your tongue. The Minister said that was a “comprehensive update”.
The work will be done in the fullness of time. When the moment is ripe. When the necessary procedures have been completed. Nothing precipitate, of course.
Who recalls when the first wonderful announcement was made that the Swing Bridge was about to be replaced? Seems like it was over 15 years ago when a carpet bagger Premier first made it.
Since 2017 the current carpet bagger has announced the imminent start of replacement in almost every Throne Speech. So far all that has been produced is pretty pictures.
You can’t drive over pictures.
2017 – https://bernews.com/2017/12/minister-david-burch-update-on-bridges/
2018 – https://bernews.com/2018/09/photos-longbird-swing-bridges-info-session/
2025 – https://bernews.com/2025/02/steps-to-replace-st-georges-swing-bridge/
Completely overlooked, St. David,s. Medic Waste near Texas Road, Google,s cable being laid…When, we have not been told. Google Reps were very informative re location on Southside to run from a beach there on to remote control park near Police Station, this was at a Town Hall meeting sometime ago. Our roads need maintenance, fencing down and why is the quarter to the hour stopping at r.45 and our last bus on a Sunday at 6.15pm from St. Geoege’s? Time for changes.
So, where’s our new asphalt plant that we we were told would be here in July of last year? More lip service for your dumb sheep right?