If you have driven across the island recently, you probably noticed fewer potholes, smoother roads, and that the crews are out and about. After several frustrating years, real and visible progress can be seen on our roads.

From potholes to paving, from equipment upgrades to budget increases, we are not only listening, we’re delivering.

In the 2025-26 Budget, we committed more than $5 million specifically for road and sidewalk resurfacing, pothole repair and drainage upgrades. That is part of an overall increase for the Ministry of Public Works and Environment, bringing its total funding to $84.1 million, and represents a clear demonstration of our commitment to rebuilding infrastructure and restoring our roads.

Your Progressive Labour Party government has:

• Signed multimillion-dollar agreement with Astec Industries, and will deliver new asphalt plant components, a milling machine, paver and shuttle buggy

• Imported paving machinery, with the asphalt plant equipment scheduled to begin arriving this summer, and the plant installation site expected to be fully operational in early 2026

This will allow us to pave faster, more efficiently and more durably than ever before.

Government crews and contractors have completed or are actively working on:

• Middle Road in Warwick and Sandys

• Scaur Hill and Somerset Bridge

• George’s Bay Road to Evans Bay

• Loyal Hill

• Flora Duffy Hill (pending completion of utility work in the area)

• Smith’s Drive, Devonshire

• Harrington Sound Road

Where utility works have been completed, paving has followed. Where resurfacing is still needed, dates are scheduled. It’s not all done yet, but we are making progress.

To support these efforts:

• Fourteen new street sweepers have been added, increasing the manpower to 21

• A dedicated pothole repair crew is working on weekends to handle emergency patch jobs faster

• The Government has partnered with private contractors such as Surface Experts Ltd (formerly East End Asphalt Ltd), ensuring more work gets done across the island

We are also addressing long-overdue safety concerns. That includes:

• Installing new guardrails at high-risk locations

• Repairing and replacing wooden fences along South Road and other busy corridors

• Installing flashing beacons at crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety

• Upgrading drainage infrastructure to reduce flooding during heavy rainfall

New traffic signal control panels for Marsh Folly and Crow Lane have been ordered and are expected this summer.

Progress will continue throughout the summer and autumn with:

• Expanded resurfacing across all parishes

• Continued guardrail, lighting and crosswalk upgrades

• Improved communication on upcoming roadworks and traffic diversions

Are all our roads perfect?

Not yet, but the difference today is clear, and our roads and infrastructure will only get better.

• Lindsay Simmons is a government senator and the Junior Minister of Social Development, Youth and Seniors, and Home Affairs