The Ministry of Public Works is evaluating the make-up of its highways teams to improve roads affected by weeds and overgrowth.

Members of the public have been taking to social media in recent weeks to complain about vegetation encroaching on public highways in several areas around the island, including the Knapton Hill and Spittal Pond areas of Smith’s, Middle Road in Devonshire and Harbour Road in Paget.

Ben Smith, the One Bermuda Alliance MP for Smith’s South, lamented the state of the roadsides before the by-election in October, saying it was a priority area in the constituency.

Not all roadside overgrowth is the Government’s responsibility to manage. Private landowners also have an obligation to maintain their properties.

“Approximately 16 dedicated individuals within our Department of Works and Engineering, highways section, are entrusted with tending to the upkeep of roadside verges and managing the overgrowth along our public roads and Tribe roads,” the Ministry of Public Works said in a statement.

“Their duties encompass the elimination of hedges, weeds and tree limbs. We are actively engaged in a thoughtful evaluation of our team's current composition to provide the best impact on the island.

“Staffing numbers are dependent on the approved 2023-24 budget, with all current posts now already filled.”

During an interview with The Royal Gazette before the by-election, Mr Smith said: “People are complaining about the state of the roads, and they’re also complaining about the tree overgrowth that’s coming out from the side of the roads, that are causing people to swerve and potentially cause other accidents.”

One poster on the Facebook group MAJ’s List wrote: “It’s actually the whole island. As bad as it is for road users losing about 3ft of road to foliage narrowing our already narrow roads, it kills lines of sight that helps with better visibility.”

Another posted: “Harrington Sound Road, too, from Flatts all the way down to Devil's Hole. All on the water side, plants and weeds and trees growing all over the place. Under the bridge on Harrington Sound Road, the cane grass makes traffic swerve out into the road and pedestrians cannot walk there.”