Public criticise state of roads
The state of Bermuda’s potholed roads is an “island-wide catastrophe”, according to the Opposition.
Craig Cannonier, the Shadow Minister of Public Works, joined a chorus of complaints being made about the large number of potholes that have formed, in part as a result of heavy rainfall.
Hundreds of comments have been posted on social media in the past week by people complaining about potholes. One social-media user has created a Facebook page dedicated to the issue.
The taxi association along with road safety advocates said that the permanent repaving of Bermuda’s roads should be a priority.
Mr Cannonier said: “Certainly after this last rainfall, it has become evident that the Government is far behind on getting Bermuda’s roads in the condition that we need them to be to ensure that motorists’ safety is not compromised.
“Dodging potholes poses serious risks to motorists.
“I don’t think there’s a major road anywhere on the island that you can drive on and not find major areas that are disastrous and not safe at all. We cannot have people on our roads avoiding potholes by drifting on to the other side of the road and endangering oncoming motorists, but this is the situation we are in.
“People have had to spend out huge sums of money to take their cars to the garage to fix damage caused by these massive potholes. Who needs the added financial stress when they are already fighting to survive in this challenging economy?
“The One Bermuda Alliance never would have allowed the roads to get in the condition they are in now. Here the Government is with no money to fix these roads. It would be very interesting to see how it going to resolve this issue in the upcoming Budget period.”
Shari-Lynn Pringle, campaign manager for A Piece of the Rock, a road safety organisation, said: “The deterioration of our roads has us concerned that more traffic crashes could result if certain sections are not prioritised for repaving.
“As the infrastructure takes on more adverse weather conditions, and roads and walls crumble, we must as a community be extremely concerned.”
Ms Pringle did commend the Government for taking steps to implement speed cameras to help improve road safety, a measure the group called for along with The Royal Gazette’s Drive for Change campaign.
Dennis Furbert, president of the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association, described the present state of the road surfaces as “horrible”.
He said: “It’s costing our drivers in steering columns, stabilising bars, tires, alignments. It’s so bad they are changing their stabilising bars and steering racks every three months.
“The drivers are disgusted and fed up with it. This needs to be fixed as soon as possible. It’s taking its toll.”
Alana Masters, a taxi driver in Bermuda for 26 years, said she has never seen the roads so bad.
She said: “It is horrendous right now. There needs to be a public outcry, especially from those on the roads all the time. We are on the roads all day from Sandys to St George’s trying to avoid potholes. There is so much wear and tear on your vehicles. My vehicle sounds like a baby’s rattle.
“This is the top priority for the industry. It’s the slow season. We are not making much money but have to maintain our cars, and it’s causing a snowball effect.
“I have been driving for 26 years in Bermuda, and I have never seen it like this, and we have always had rain in Bermuda. Even when they fill the potholes, the next lot of rain washes it out.
“It is ridiculous. You have to really concentrate because you have potholes you are trying to avoid, causing you to veer over to the other side and at the same time, drivers on the other side of the road are trying to avoid the potholes on their side.”
Motorists have been taking to social media to complain about the state of the road surfaces. Here is a small selection of those comments.
One week ago:
• “When are you fixing the pothole on the corner heading east from the aquarium!? That pothole should be a priority. It is causing damage to cars. Sincerely, tired of swerving in the other lane.”
• On a pothole at the north side of Black Watch Pass, Pembroke: “I keep avoiding it, they were doing good filling in those potholes, but major rain brings it back or new ones in around area. It's like a river going to that area during a heavy rainfall. Looks nice on road but aftermath not so much.”
• “The whole island a death trap”.
• One suggested spray painting circles around the potholes, adding: “see how fast they fix them”.
• On a pothole near the aquarium in Flatts Village: “I hit it today and thought my tire was going to explode”.
• On the same pothole: “When I went over it my wind shield wipers literally came on, I thought for sure my rims cracked. I’ve already had to replace a set of wheels for my car a few years back because one of them literally cracked.”
Three days ago:
• “It's like we live in a Third World country or worse. What a poor reflection of the Government and basic responsibility. How many people have been seriously hurt?”
• “Caught me off guard completely. Hard to miss every pothole.
Two days ago:
• “Imagine [trying to] avoid the uneven messed up corner on the left approaching Shelly Bay stretch while having to avoid the pothole on the right at the same time! At this point TCD [the Transport Control Department] needs to start waiving fees for us even making it through the pothole pandemic.”
• “I lost two new tyres in it yesterday.”
• “The West End is the worst!!”
• “This has gone way past unsafe. Sad for me seeing seniors losing sudden control and having to replace things that should be lasting much longer. Trailing arms $785, ball joints $115, shocks $500 and up (pair), labour. Tyre businesses see shredded tires and fender scrapes of which there is no reporting.
• ”Suggest we all contact our MPs and start to get heard. Someone is going to get hurt with the state of our roads. Many voices are difficult to be ignored.”
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