A planned new government asphalt plant will not be operational until the beginning of next year after the project was beset by delays.

In June 2024, Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said that the new plant and related equipment — costing $6.2 million — was expected to be on the island by the end of that year and running by April this year.

At a press conference yesterday, the minister said that the component parts of the facility had been constructed in the United States, but had still not been shipped to Bermuda.

Although they are due to arrive here over the summer, it is expected to take several more months to assemble the plant.

As a result it will not be operational until January 2026.

Colonel Burch said: “I have been the first to admit that the Government’s physical assets are ageing and are not up to par.

“The unreliability of these machines — the asphalt plant, and asphalt miller in particular, cause the asphalt teams to slow their production and delivery.

“We have a multimillion-dollar agreement with Astec Industries, a leading provider of asphalt plants and paving equipment in the United States, to provide a new plant, a new screening plant, replacement asphalting paving equipment and maintenance support to the Government.”

Colonel Burch said that new aggregate screening plant and three new pieces of paving equipment — an asphalt paver, a milling machine and a shuttle buggy material transfer vehicle — had been purchased and pre-delivery inspections were continuing.

He added: “Additionally, the new asphalt plant has been manufactured and is ready for pre-delivery inspections.

“The shipping arrangements are ongoing as well as the asphalt plant site works contract and, based on the expected time estimates, the site should be ready to receive the equipment in Bermuda by October.

“The estimated asphalt plant handover date is January 2026, but as with all construction projects, unforeseen circumstances may occur which would cause this date to be pushed back.”

Colonel Burch confirmed that environmental concerns at the site of the plant had “delayed progress” by about six months while inspections were carried out.

He said: “That work is ongoing and we’re working through some of the challenges.”

The Government’s existing plant was put out of action in 2023, forcing the ministry to buy asphalt from a private company — East End Asphalt — to keep up with its road repair programme.

Colonel Burch said that the company had been contracted to resurface a portion of Loyal Hill in Devonshire and Flora Duffy Hill from Cavendish Road to Crow Lane in the next two months.

He said: “There is presently $1,000,000 in this year's budget for contracting work to East End Asphalt, so more private road paving will be carried out before year-end.”

Colonel Burch added that government teams continued to work around the clock to tackle the island’s pothole problem.

He said: “I am pleased to say that patching works have been expedited utilising weekend crews when the need has arisen.

“As soon as potholes are reported to our Highways section at potholes@gov.bm, we immediately action them and will continue to do so.”