$56M George Price Highway Upgrade Gets Underway 

Commuters travelling between La Democracia Village and Belmopan should prepare for delays as major reconstruction works begin on a 15-mile stretch of the George Price Highway. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is set to begin a $56 million, three-year upgrade to improve safety and reduce flooding along one of the country’s busiest routes.

Chief Engineer Evondale Moody said the project covers “approximately 15 miles of road, approximately 25 kilometres of road that will be completely rehabilitated to a paved standard.” He said that the existing road will be fully rebuilt. “We will scarify the existing pavement and apply new road base and sub-base material to improve the strength and stability of the highway,” Moody added.

Moody said works will start from La Democracia towards Belmopan, with another team moving from Belmopan towards Cotton Tree. A third work zone will focus on constructing a new bridge at Mount Pleasant Creek, an area prone to flooding during heavy rainfall. “That is the area that is usually inundated by floodwaters whenever we have excessive rainfall,” Moody said.

He said a temporary route will be created to keep vehicles moving while construction is underway, though delays are expected.

The upgrade will widen the highway to include 1.5-metre paved shoulders, improving safety for drivers. Major junction improvements are also planned, including the George Price Boulevard intersection and access for the new hospital.

Moody warned drivers to expect disruptions and exercise caution when traversing this part of the highway.