The state of Bermuda’s infrastructure affects every resident, every business and every visitor to our shores. It is critical that we understand that infrastructure does not stand still. It either improves through investment and maintenance, or it deteriorates through neglect. There is no middle ground. Infrastructure is not a partisan issue. Roads do not care whether someone votes Progressive Labour Party or One Bermuda Alliance. Bridges do not distinguish between east and west. Ferries do not ask which constituency a passenger comes from. Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and our quality of life. When it works, people barely notice it. When it fails, everyone feels the consequences.

This PLP government has developed an unfortunate habit of waiting until critical infrastructure reaches the point of failure before taking meaningful action. We have become trapped in a cycle of deferred maintenance, delayed decision-making and emergency expenditures. What should have been routine repairs become major reconstruction projects. What could have been managed for thousands eventually costs millions.

The lesson is simple, delaying maintenance does not save money, it multiplies costs. The Swing Bridge (built in 1964) and the twin bailey bridges that replaced Longbird Bridge (built itself in 1953) are not merely pieces of infrastructure. They are critical transportation lifelines connecting communities, workers, students, visitors, and businesses.

For years, concerns had been raised by members of the public about the ageing condition of both structures. The Swing Bridge, after many Band-Aid fixes to its maintenance needs, will finally be replaced with a lift bridge. The twin bailey bridges, installed in or around 2007-08, were never intended to be a permanent solution. Yet here we are, 18 to 19 years later, still relying on what was originally conceived as temporary structures, although there were some upgrades to the deck panels and replacement of steel member components in March, 2025.

In June 2021, Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the then Minister of Public Works, estimated the cost to replace the Swing Bridge, connecting St David’s to St George’s Island, and the Longbird Bridge, connecting The Main to St David’s Island, as part of the Causeway, to be $100 million.

When governments postpone difficult decisions year after year, temporary solutions have a way of becoming permanent liabilities. The public deserve to know that these critical links are being monitored, maintained, and replaced according to a long-term strategic plan rather than according to the crisis of the day.

We should not wait until engineering reports leave us with no choice. We should not wait until expensive emergency interventions become necessary. We should not wait until traffic disruptions cripple the movement of people and commerce.

The same principle applies to our public transportation system.

The reliability of our ferry service has become a growing concern. Ferries are not simply a convenience. They are a vital component of Bermuda's transportation network. They reduce traffic congestion, offer an alternative to road travel, support tourism, and connect communities. When ferry services are disrupted repeatedly because of maintenance issues, equipment failures, or vessel shortages, the public loses confidence in the system.

Likewise, concerns surrounding our public bus fleet continue to frustrate residents. Route cancellations, service interruptions, ageing vehicles and maintenance challenges have become all too familiar. Even after the purchase of dozens of electric buses from China, the durability and expected life span of these buses both are cause for great concern. Reliable transportation infrastructure is not a luxury; it is a necessity for a modern economy.

The problem extends beyond transportation. Across Bermuda, government buildings and public facilities are showing the effects of years of deferred maintenance. We see public buildings requiring extensive renovations because routine upkeep was neglected.

Anyone who owns a home understands this simple reality. A small leak in a roof may cost hundreds to repair today. Ignore it for five years, and you may find yourself replacing structural beams, ceilings, electrical systems, and entire sections of the building. Too often, under this PLP government, maintenance has been treated as an optional expense rather than an investment in preserving public assets. As a result, taxpayers end up paying significantly more.

Our roads tell a similar story. Residents across Bermuda continue to encounter deteriorating road surfaces, crumbling edges, potholes, damaged kerbs, and inadequate drainage. Every year these issues become more expensive to correct. Again, the cost multiplies because action was delayed.

The condition of our roads raises another troubling example of poor infrastructure planning: the ongoing situation surrounding Bermuda's asphalt production capability. How can we seriously speak about maintaining and rehabilitating our road network, when questions continue to surround the availability and replacement of the asphalt plant needed to support that work? After many years of questions, the minister responsible for public works can proudly tell us that parts of the asphalt plant are on island!

Road maintenance is not something that can be switched on and off when convenient. It requires planning, equipment, and consistency. Without the proper infrastructure to produce asphalt efficiently, every road-repair programme becomes more difficult, more expensive, and more vulnerable to delay.

The Government has recently engaged the services of a private-sector company to assist with road paving. This contractor is not doing it for free. They have a responsibility to their shareholders to maximise the value of their shares. Again, the taxpayers pay more!

• Vance Campbell is Shadow Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, and the One Bermuda Alliance MP for Smith’s West (Constituency 9)

Tomorrow: Bermuda’s unseen infrastructure and what can be done about it