A One Bermuda Alliance MP has called on the Government to address speeding and dangerous driving plaguing Church Road in Southampton.

Linda Smith, the Shadow Minister of Public Works and Environment, said Southampton West Central residents had appealed to the Government for more than five years to tackle poor conditions on the busy roadway.

The MP for Constituency 31 said the highways department conducted a site visit approximately about year ago and agreed that action needed to be taken.

She recalled a statement to the House of Assembly in December by Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, indicating that work on traffic calming was imminent.

At the time, Mr Adams said: “These locations were not only highlighted by residents but were also validated through technical reviews carried out by our road-safety team, which confirmed visibility challenges, pedestrian risk and traffic-flow concerns.”

“These are areas where our children walk, where seniors cross and where families have long expressed legitimate concerns.”

However, Ms Smith said: “It has been almost six months and there have been no developments or updates.

“Recent correspondence to the ministry was answered with a curt reply, saying work will take place in due course.

“Hopefully, due course is before there is an avoidable tragedy.”

She said Church Road was home to Port Royal Primary School, two nursery schools, St Anne’s Church and the Southampton Post Office.

She added: “It is a busy road used by parents, teachers, students, seniors, residents and for Port Royal physical education classes and other activities.

“Concern about the safety of road users extends well beyond the immediate residents.

“Parents whose children catch the bus or walk, and those dropping off and picking up children daily, worry about their safety.

“In addition to school traffic, Church Road is increasingly being used as a thoroughfare for commercial vehicles moving between South and Middle roads, often at high speeds, which increases with the start of the cruise ship season.

“Additionally, the danger is compounded by poor road sight lines, which make it difficult for both drivers and pedestrians to see what is ahead and what is coming towards them.”

Ms Smith said after the site visit in June last year, the Highways Department acknowledged that heavy traffic passes through an area with school entrances and exits, two bus lay-bys and two private roads.

She added: “They also noted that sight lines on Church Road need evaluation, and there should be traffic-calming measures installed to reduce speeding and improve safety.

“This is good news but where is the priority? When is ‘in due course’?”