Potholes are appearing across the island’s roads only days after work crews repaired them.

Heavy rain is causing cracks to form in freshly poured tarmac, which is being washed away before it has time to fully set, exposing fresh craters in already pockmarked roads.

The problem was highlighted after the Ministry of Public Works issued a press release yesterday showing completed repair works at Collector’s Hill in Smith’s.

A ministry spokesman said that the work was finished on Friday and illustrated that the Government was “making progress” in addressing the problem.

But photographs posted on social media on Monday showed the stretch of road once again littered with divots — only three days after work crews had resurfaced large patches of the busy junction.

The Royal Gazette visited the site and was able to confirm that the road was once again in a state of disrepair.

In yesterday’s statement, the ministry spokesman warned that freshly filled-in potholes were at risk of opening up again and that work being carried out was only a temporary fix.

The spokesman said: “In a step towards remedying this issue, the highways team successfully conducted repairs on Friday at the junction between Collector’s Hill and South Road in Smith’s, a spot notably plagued by numerous potholes and the subject of many complaints received through our dedicated e-mail, potholes@gov.bm.

“However, it is important to note that the repairs made at the Collector’s Hill junction, serve as a temporary measure. A comprehensive road paving operation will have to commence to address these issues more permanently.

“Due to the recent and forecasted continuous rain across the island until at least the middle of this week, there is a heightened risk that the newly repaired potholes may deteriorate.”

The island has been drenched by 6.38 inches of rain so far this month. The average rainfall for February is 4.6 inches. According to the Bermuda Weather Service, the current wet spell is expected to last until Friday.

The spokesman added: “Rainfall presents a significant challenge to pothole repair efforts as the highways team cannot perform repairs under wet conditions. Motorists are urged to exercise additional caution when navigating the roads during this period.

“In light of these challenges, it is crucial for the community to understand that the resumption of pothole repairs across the Island will occur as soon as weather conditions permit.

“The ministry is focused on improving the safety and integrity of Bermuda’s road infrastructure and appreciates the public’s patience and co-operation.”

Hard rain is hampering efforts in another way.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said that crews could not tackle damaged road surfaces in heavy rain, which resulted in repair work being delayed.

Colonel Burch said: “We are fully aware of the inconvenience and potential hazards posed by potholes, especially during this rainy season.

“Our teams are poised to continue their repair work as soon as the weather clears. Our overriding concern is your safety and we thank you for your understanding as we navigate these challenges together.”

Residents are asked to report pothole sightings to the ministry at potholes@gov.bm.

The ministry has been allocated $5 million for pothole repairs in this year’s Budget, almost double its normal allowance.

But according to Colonel Burch, $100 million is needed to resurface the island’s entire network of roads.