The $5 million slated for “road paving” in the Budget for the year is a drop in the ocean compared with what should be invested, the Opposition has said.

Maurice Foley, the Opposition senator who speaks on public works in the Upper House, added that the One Bermuda Alliance was calling for a “comprehensive national roads audit” and a publicly released, phased paving plan prioritising high-risk and high-traffic areas.

Mr Foley said: “The Government should publish quarterly updates on what roads have been addressed, at what cost and how contractor performance is being evaluated.

“This is about more than asphalt — it’s about public trust, fiscal responsibility and ensuring that our roadways are safe and fit for use.

“Bermudians deserve better than short-term fixes disguised as long-term solutions.”

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the former Minister of Public Works, said in 2023 it would cost the taxpayer $100 million to resurface all the island’s roads and that half of them were in poor condition.

Last year, road repairs budget was doubled to $5 million.

Under the highways heading of Works and Engineering in this Budget, there is a $5,804,000 allocation.

However the figure includes management [$969,000], road asphalt and signs [$1,512,000], roads maintenance [$1,618, 000] and roads cleaning [$1,705,000].

Mr Foley said the allocation “raises more questions than confidence”.

He said: “Colonel Burch himself acknowledged it would take approximately $100 million to repave the entire island. At best, this would take approximately ten years to complete.

“Against that reality, this $5 million budget — especially when diluted with non-paving activities — comes across as a surface-level solution to a deeply embedded issue.

“Against that benchmark, this Budget appears to be more cosmetic than corrective. Even more concerning is that a portion of the funds allocated for road improvements in the 2024–25 budget cycle was not utilised.

“If the Government can't fully execute the funding it already has, how can Bermudians have confidence that this new allocation will be any different?”

Shari-Lynn Pringle, who heads up the road safety group A Piece of the Rock, said that not only did the poor road surface conditions cause costly damage to vehicles, they were likely the cause of road accidents.

Ms Pringle, who is a taxi driver, told The Royal Gazette: “I spend a lot of time driving and so I’m well aware of the deplorable state of our roads — it’s horrible out there.

“Aside from the constant wear and tear on our vehicles, driving up costs where this government is attempting to reduce the cost of living, these roads are unsafe to drive on.

“There are far too many deaths and injuries as a result of road traffic accidents and I’m surprised there are not more given the countless potholes, uneven surfaces and miles of road, you cannot even see the centre line and road markings.

“While the $5 million dedicated to road paving may go some way to improving safety, it is not nearly enough given the amount that is needed to carry out the improvements island wide.”

Road paving falls under the Ministry of Public Works and Environment, which was allocated $84.1 million — an increase of $4.4 million or 6 per cent.

Environment, which previously fell under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was added to the portfolio after the General Election.

In delivering the Budget this morning, David Burt, the Premier, said: “Maintaining and improving road infrastructure remains a priority, with $5 million allocated to road paving.

“Preparatory works for the new asphalt plant are fully funded and under way, which will enhance the efficiency and quality of future road maintenance.”

The Budget allocated $149.8 million for capital spending, representing an increase of $37 million compared with the 2024-25 estimate.

The Premier said in delivering the Budget that this is the “largest investment in our island’s infrastructure since 2008”.

He said road works and the installation of the asphalt plant were among the most significant items in capital spend along with the commencement of the replacement of the Swing Bridge in St George’s.

The ageing structure, which links St George’s with St David’s, was built in 1964 and has required multiple repair works in recent years.

Capital development funds for the bridge are listed as $3,750,000.