“This purchase is not merely an acquisition; it’s a real sign of progress in addressing the state of our roads,” said Minister of Public Works Lt. Col. the Hon. David A. Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP, MP, of an agreement to acquire a new asphalt plant.
Cabinet has approved the purchase of a new, cutting-edge asphalt plant and road asphalting equipment from Astec Industries Inc., a leading American provider, for $6,197,470.00.
Approximately 75 percent of the allocated funding is contained in the current 2023/24 Budget, with the remaining expenditure coming out of the next fiscal period (2024/25).
The plant’s equipment will include an Aggregate Screening Plant, which is used to sort aggregate; a paver, which is a piece of construction equipment utilised for spreading asphalt uniformly over a pre-prepared surface during road construction tasks; and a mill machine which is used to remove asphalt from the road.
Additional equipment includes a Material Transfer Vehicle (shuttle buggy), which is used on-site to store and keep the asphalt hot, and an Asphalt Batching Plant, which is used to make the asphalt mix one batch at a time.
An additional $1.1 million has been budgeted for the next fiscal year to install the new batching plant and decommission the old one.
This strategic investment is a significant advancement in road maintenance and infrastructure development across the Island. It marks a crucial step towards fulfilling the Government’s goal of improving Bermuda’s road conditions, which have been a focal point of public concern.
Minister Burch expressed optimism about the new development. He stated, “After enduring a challenging year with our road conditions, exacerbated due to record rainfall, we are now poised to enhance our road infrastructure significantly.
“Our partnership with Astec Industries ensures not only the procurement of top-notch equipment but also access to invaluable expertise and maintenance support.”
In preparation for the arrival and operation of the new equipment, the Ministry arranged for fifteen staff members to undergo specialised training at Astec’s headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, earlier this year.
This initiative aimed to equip our asphalt teams with advanced techniques and applications, thus elevating the standard of road resurfacing efforts across the Island.
Additional training sessions are scheduled on the Island for the remainder of the team, ensuring comprehensive skill enhancement across our workforce.
The Ministry has been active while awaiting the delivery of the new asphalt plant. Leveraging the recently reinstated services of the privately-owned East End Asphalt plant, which the Government is utilising for fresh asphalt supplies, the Ministry is initiating permanent road resurfacing work at select locations.
These efforts underscore our focus on immediate improvements in road quality, even as we prepare for a more sustainable long-term solution.
The areas earmarked for urgent attention with the resumption of asphalt supply include the paving of Watford Bridge Joint Holes, the junction of Collector’s Hill and South Road, South Shore Road at Henry VIII, and the continued reinstatement of Harrington Sound Road through Middle Road.
Minister Burch also stated: “The paving equipment is expected to be delivered within a few weeks, whereas the construction of the plant abroad will take six months, followed by an additional three months for shipping and assembly on site. However, Astec Industries is collaborating with the Government to reduce this timeframe potentially if feasible.”
The Ministry thanks the public for their patience and understanding.
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