Following reports of damage to Union Road in Hatton linked to the use of heavy-duty equipment, the Ministry of Works has moved to carry out the necessary repairs. This intervention is important for residents who rely on the roadway daily and helps restore safer conditions for motorists and pedestrians.

While the repairs are welcomed, there is growing concern about the continued use of Federation Road by heavy-duty equipment. Ongoing heavy traffic of this kind places significant strain on residential roads, accelerates surface deterioration, and raises serious health and safety concerns for nearby communities.

The Perry Bay Main Road remains the more structurally appropriate route for heavy-duty traffic. Its use would help protect residential infrastructure while ensuring safer and more efficient movement of heavy machinery.

Commenting on the issue, ABLP Caretaker for St. John’s Rural West, Senator Michael Joseph, said, “The sustained use of community roads by heavy-duty vehicles is not sustainable and puts residents at unnecessary risk. Using more structurally appropriate routes like the Perry Bay Main Road is critical to preventing repeated damage and ensuring public safety.”