The Ministry of Works has moved swiftly to carry out repairs to Union Road in Hatton following reports of damage linked to the use of heavy-duty equipment.

The intervention is being welcomed by residents who depend on the roadway for daily travel, as the repairs are expected to restore safer conditions for both motorists and pedestrians.

However, growing concern remains over the continued use of Federation Road by heavy machinery. Residents and stakeholders warn that sustained heavy-duty traffic on residential roads places excessive strain on infrastructure, accelerates surface deterioration, and raises serious health and safety risks for nearby communities.

There are renewed calls for heavy equipment to be rerouted along the Perry Bay Main Road, which is considered more structurally suitable for such traffic. Advocates say using that route would help preserve residential roads while allowing for safer and more efficient movement of heavy machinery.

Commenting on the issue, ABLP Caretaker for St. John’s Rural West, Senator Michael Joseph, cautioned against the ongoing use of community roads for industrial traffic.

“The sustained use of community roads by heavy-duty vehicles is not sustainable and puts residents at unnecessary risk,” Joseph said. “Using more structurally appropriate routes like the Perry Bay Main Road is critical to preventing repeated damage and ensuring public safety.”

Residents are now urging authorities to implement clearer traffic controls to protect residential infrastructure and prevent future damage.