Opposition MP Michael Weeks has called on Government to take some “extraordinary decisions” to fix a problem which is causing rush-hour east end traffic tailbacks.Commuters are dealing with far slower journeys in and out of Hamilton due to a lane being closed on Palmetto Road and Marsh Folly Road because of the collapse of a rock face at a private Perimeter Lane property.The Ministry of Public Works has warned motorists to expect the lane to be closed for a “significant period of time”, adding: “The stabilisation of the rock cut is not the Ministry’s responsibility — the landowners on Perimeter Lane are responsible for constructing a proper retaining wall there.”But constituency MP Mr Weeks said that wasn’t good enough, since so many people used the route into town and the traffic could have contributed to the cliff’s demise.“Government can’t linger too long,” he said. “Even if Government does it and bills the [owners] afterwards, for expediency’s sake. Extraordinary things call for extraordinary decisions.”Asked if Government had some responsibility for paying for a solution, the Progressive Labour Party politician said: “Most definitely so. You can’t deny that the constant traffic on that road has helped undermine the wall. Government should step in to assist.”He said he was aware negotiations were ongoing with the homeowners. “Once the negotiations are done, some responsibility should go either way.“I don’t think the [homeowners] should have to foot the total bill but I also think Government should take a look at it and see what contribution Government should make and what the [homeowners] should make.”Mr Weeks said until the problem was fixed, traffic on that route should be restricted to one way in on a morning and one way out at the end of the working day.“That would stop the build-up of traffic,” he said.The Perimeter Lane homeowner, who asked not to be named, told The Royal Gazette the issue of who was financially responsible for building a wall there was nothing new.The 50-year-old man, who has lived there for about 30 years, said he and his wife had asked Government to contribute before but “they always think it’s our problem”.He said: “That’s always been our request with the past Minister and the Minister before that.“I strongly feel that because of the road usage up there, with the tractor trailers, buses, all that heavy vehicular traffic, certainly, in my opinion, [it] must impose some sort of friction.”He said talks were under way with Government about the work and he didn’t want to jeopardise them by going into detail.But he suggested the problem may not take that long to fix, as work had already begun on a retaining wall before heavy rain caused the cliff to collapse a few weeks ago.“It’s not going to be months or years,” he said. “Once it’s started it should be completed in the month. Works and Engineering are working with us.”A Government spokesman said: “The Ministry of Public Works is exploring various options but, at this stage, it is not prepared to disclose its discussions with the landowner on Perimeter Lane, as this is a confidential matter.”He continued: “Traffic lights have been installed to manage the traffic flow from east of Palmetto Road at the junction of North Shore Road and Palmetto Road near the Barker’s Hill roundabout and at the westbound lane of Palmetto Road west of Bishop Spencer Road.“The Ministry apologises for any inconvenience to the motoring public caused by this traffic diversion and requests that traffic signs in this area are observed.”