Bus drivers will continue their boycott of Dockyard after rejecting Government's latest offer and have vowed to return to work only after road works have been completed.

Drivers say Pender Road is dangerously narrow and have been stopping service at Watford Bridge. Minibuses laid on by Government have been taking passengers in and out of Dockyard.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott expressed his frustration at the impasse which has been going on for three weeks and has seen much back and forth between Government and the Bermuda Industrial Union.

He said: "I am very disappointed with the response from the bus operators."

He said it would take six to 12 weeks to get the road works completed.

"We will speed it up as much as we can," said Mr. Scott.

Government offered to make Pender Road exclusive to buses and cyclists but this was rejected by drivers.

Their union, the Bermuda Industrial Union, agreed to an offer to make Pender Road one-way going into Dockyard with a revamped Freeport Drive for outward bound traffic.

But they rejected an offer to resume service while Freeport Drive was brought up to highway code standards.

But Mr. Scott said this would entail proper street lighting with at least eight poles, resurfacing work, removal of impediments, signs and a safety barrier being created between the road and the working area of the dock.

He said: "This would have the affect of relieving the bus operators from having to pass any vehicles as they entered WEDCO/Dockyard with the exception of cyclists."

The Minister emphasised Government would be at risk and assume unacceptable liability if they directed tourists and Bermudians alike on their cycles along the dimly lit waterfront of Freeport Drive."

Therefore until Freeport Drive was brought up to code with the appropriate lighting, road surface and safety barriers and signage it was hoped the bus operators would accept the interim arrangement in the interest of all traffic users and resume the bus service for the public to Dockyard, said the Minister.

"Regrettably, the rejection of this reasonable offer by the Ministry means both Bermudians and tourists will be further inconvenienced by not having a bus service over the period that it takes to bring Freeport Drive up to code."

However Public Transport Director Dann Simmons said the system of running replacement minibuses was working smoothly.

He said: "I have not had any complaints from the public. We have put on a shuttle service and the indications are it is working well."

And he said the bus service had further contingency plans for the extra cruise ship passengers arriving this weekend.

Last night BIU leader Derrick Burgess was off the Island and stand-in leader Chris Furbert could not be reached for comment.