MIDH Preparing for Major Projects in Belize City

Belize City residents are being urged to prepare for significant traffic changes as three major infrastructure projects move forward almost simultaneously. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is joining forces with the Belize City Council for a public town hall meeting this Tuesday at the Belize Civic Center. At the center of the discussion is the replacement of the iconic Swing Bridge, construction of a new BelCan Bridge and upgrades to the George Price Highway. Today, News Five’s Shane Williams sat down with Chief Engineer Evondale Moody to break down the timeline for each project and how the ministry plans to keep traffic flowing.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting…

Belize City residents should brace for major disruption: three of the city’s six main bridges will be shut down over the next three years for full replacements. Chief Engineer Evondale Moody says the ministry will soon sign the contract to remove the historic Swing Bridge, with prep work starting ahead of its full closure and temporary routes planned to keep the north and south sides connected.

 

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing

“Under the grant agreement, the Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for the construction of a temporary bridge that will be able to accommodate vehicular traffic and also pedestrians and also the removal of the existing superstructure of the existing Swing Bridge. So because of the timeline that we have in terms of the implementation of that project we have commenced the procurement process for the engagement of a contractor to construct the temporary bridge and also the procurement process for the engagement of another contractor for the removal of the existing structure. That process has already started. We anticipate that bids will be due on the sixteenth of March, and so because of that timeline, we have to ensure that we commence the construction of the temporary bridge by April. So the timing is critical for the MIDH. The construction of the temporary bridge will take us about four months and we anticipate that temporary bridge will be completed in July. The temporary bridge will be located at Hyde’s Lane and it’ll go straight across the Haulover Creek towards Regent Street West, landing at a location that used to be known as Mike’s Club.”

 

Construction of the new Swing bridge is set to commence in January 2027. The swinging mechanism that is used to turn the bridge as well as a section of the Swing Bridge will be saved for public display somewhere in Belize City. The second major undertaking is the construction of the BelCan Bridge.

 

Evondale Moody

“Bids are due for BelCan this Wednesday, the fourth of March, and so we anticipate that we will complete the evaluation process and the bid evaluation report by the end of March so that we could make an award by April first. Reason being is that we have to construct another temporary bridge. This temporary bridge now will be located behind Save and it’ll come across from Evergreen Street behind BWS and then make its landing behind Save U to enter into the Phillip Goldson Highway. This bridge now will be one way from south side to north side, while the swing bridge will be from north side to south side. So we are still making provisions so that vehicle traffic could utilize these two temporary structures. We know that there will be inconveniences in the city, and so the MIDH is trying its best to ensure that we still have continuity in terms of traffic movement and pedestrians while these two structures are out. The timeline for the construction of that temporary structure is also four months, so we anticipate that we will finish the temporary bridge by July.”

 

For upgrades to the George Price Highway, the Burton Canal Bridge will be replaced, and works will improve road surfaces, drainage and design of traffic flow into the city.

 

Evondale Moody

“So that award will be made before the end of this month for lot one. Hence the reason why we met with the mayor a week ago and his council to explain to him what the scope of works are for George Price Highway, which will commence at Pound Yard Bridge and then terminate in Hattieville as I’ve mentioned. The works that we’ll be doing going through Cemetery Road is basically drainage improvements. We will be improving the pave pavement and then we’ll be doing major pavement works near the cemetery where there is no existing drainage. We have to put in new sidewalk, side drains. The road will be narrowed a little bit there because we have to put in box drains to accommodate the runoff, which has created a number of problems on the existing pavement and that’s why it’s deteriorated in that condition right now. So we want to eliminate that by putting in the proper drainage and then building a new pavement going forward. Once we pass through the pave, once we pass through the cemetery up to Vernon Street, that section of the highway from Vernon Street to Fabers Road will become a boulevard.”

 

With three major projects coming over the next three years, ministry officials say public engagement is crucial. Tuesday’s town hall will lay out routes, timelines, and give residents a chance to speak up. Their message: expect short‑term inconvenience now for long‑term upgrades that will modernize Belize City’s transport network. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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