Column: Thomas Harvey On Road Conditions

[Opinion column written by the OBA's Thomas Harvey]

How much longer can Bermuda continue to ignore the condition of our roads and infrastructure?

Have you noticed the sinking impressions, depressions and areas where sections of our roads are deplorable?

Could the increasing size and weight of modern vehicles, particularly heavy trucks and construction vehicles, be contributing to the deterioration of Bermuda’s road network?

Are we asking the right questions about the impact that overweight and oversized vehicles are having on roads and supporting structures that were not designed for today’s level of heavy traffic?

Bermuda’s highways, roads and carriageways evolved from a transportation network originally built to accommodate much lighter forms of transportation than the heavy vehicles and construction equipment operating on them today. When many of Bermuda’s roads were originally developed, transportation consisted largely of horse-drawn carriages and much lighter vehicles.

A fully loaded Bedford truck in the 1960s may have weighed approximately 9,000 pounds. How does that compare with the weight of today’s heavy vehicles transporting aggregate, construction materials and equipment?

Are heavy vehicles being properly inspected? Large trucks are now using modified 20-foot shipping containers as dumpsters for transporting heavy aggregate and other materials. Have these vehicles been properly inspected and approved by the Transport Control Department [TCD]?

When we refer to the vehicle, are we only considering the trailer, wheels and mechanical components, or has the converted container itself been inspected and certified for the loads it is carrying?

What Is Happening to Bermuda’s Stone Retaining Walls?

As road users, we cannot overlook anything which may be contributing to the demise of our roads, and consequently, the deterioration of our vehicles. This leads me to ponder when was the last time Government engineers conducted a complete assessment of the stone retaining walls that support many of our roads?

These walls were built for a different era.

Were they ever intended to support the constant vibration, weight and pressure created by today’s heavy trucks, construction machinery and large vehicles?

Are We Addressing the Root Causes of Infrastructure Failures?

When significant public funds are required to repair roads, bridges and retaining structures, are we addressing only the visible damage, or are we identifying and correcting the underlying causes?

Every major repair project should include a full assessment of the factors that contributed to the failure, including vehicle weight, road design, drainage, erosion, climate impacts and the condition of supporting structures.

Examples across the island of areas where thorough assessments should be conducted:

• The road west before Scaur Hill — where extensive repair work was required following roadway deterioration and structural concerns.

• The Shelly Bay area — where sections of roadway and retaining structures required significant intervention, raising questions about long-term protection against erosion, heavy traffic loads and environmental pressures.

• Middle Road in Smith’s Parish near Store Hill — where retaining wall and roadway concerns required major attention and demonstrated the vulnerability of Bermuda’s infrastructure.

• Middle Road near Five Star Island in Southampton — where erosion and roadway conditions required significant works, highlighting the ongoing challenges created by coastal exposure and changing environmental conditions.

• Black Watch Pass in Pembroke — where major improvements were completed after long-standing concerns about roadway safety, access and infrastructure limitations.

• Palmetto Road Bridge in Pembroke — where a major bridge replacement project was ultimately required, demonstrating the need for continued assessment of Bermuda’s ageing infrastructure.

• Canal Street Bridge — where a roadway failure occurred after a large crane traversed the area, raising questions about the capacity of existing roads and structures to safely accommodate exceptionally heavy loads.

These examples demonstrate that Bermuda’s infrastructure faces challenges from multiple factors, including age, environmental conditions, erosion and increasing vehicle weights.

The question is whether our planning and maintenance approach is keeping pace with those challenges.

Are we designing infrastructure solutions based on the conditions Bermuda faces today or are we continuing to repair yesterday’s infrastructure using tomorrow’s demands?

Are these isolated incidents, or are they signs of a wider infrastructure problem?

Should Bermuda be considering alternative solutions, including tunnels where practical, instead of continuing with costly bridge replacements?

When 20-yard aggregate dumpsters were first introduced, were they not originally approved for specific large-scale projects, including the demolition of the former Club Med property in St. George’s and later the Port Royal Golf Course redevelopment? Was it ever intended that these large-capacity dumpsters would become a permanent part of Bermuda’s trucking fleet?

Are Bermudians paying twice—once through the possible damage caused by heavier vehicle loads on our roads and retaining walls, and again through the cost of repairing the resulting infrastructure problems?

Cost effective solutions

Why are wooden roadside barriers still being installed when more durable materials have already proven successful in other locations, such as sections near John Smith’s Bay?

Would investing in stronger, longer-lasting materials reduce maintenance costs and inconvenience to the public?

Why does government continue to spend money repairing infrastructure without a clear, publicly available national maintenance strategy?

Bermuda should have an infrastructure plan that considers:

• Our unique geology
• Our historic stone retaining walls
• Coastal erosion
• Climate change and extreme weather
• The increasing size and weight of modern vehicles
• Long-term maintenance costs

A Question of Government Responsibility and Accountability

If Bermuda is performing well financially and maintaining a balanced budget, why are so many critical public assets still struggling?

Why are our roads deteriorating? Why does Sessions House remain unfit for use? Why has the Supreme Court Registry required significant attention? Why have other government facilities remained unusable or in poor condition? Is this simply a matter of funding, or is it a matter of planning, priorities and accountability?

The people of Bermuda deserve safe roads, reliable infrastructure, and responsible management of public funds.

It’s important that we protect our Island, preserve our heritage, and ensuree that future generations inherit infrastructure that is safe, sustainable and properly maintained.

The time has come for Bermuda to ask the difficult questions and for those responsible to provide the answers.

- Thomas Harvey ran as the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for constituency 2, St. George’s West in the 2025 General Election.

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