Pothole Plague Prompts Citywide Repairs

Belize City residents are dodging potholes the size of craters, and motorists say the streets feel more like obstacle courses than roads, but City Hall insists help is finally on the way. The Belize City Council says it’s steadily working toward its goal of rehabilitating one hundred and fifty streets each term, and today Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller urged residents to be patient as crews push ahead with ongoing repairs.

 

Eluide Miller, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“We also have Iguana Street in the Collett constituency which is underway. We have Arlington Drive in Port Loyola which is underway. It received the first quote of chip and seal. So we are very happy about how that project is coming along. Then there is Lakeview and Seagull which were rehabilitated just a few days ago in the Queen Square Division. Then we have Western Avenue, which is something that I am personally excited about. Western Avenue is being rehabilitated as well, that started last week. So I know at the moment they are working on the drainage and then they will actually start with the street works. It is a critical artery in an out of the Lake Independence Area. So that highlights some of the major infrastructural projects we have ongoing.”

 

City Hall Hosts Town Hall on Major Upgrades

 

As City Hall pushes ahead with street repairs across Belize City, from Iguana Street to Western Avenue, residents will soon have a chance to weigh in on even bigger projects reshaping the Old Capital’s infrastructure. The Belize City Council has scheduled a town hall to update the public on plans for the George Price Highway upgrade and the replacement of both the Swing Bridge and Belcan Bridge, and Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller says the session will help residents understand how the works will affect them and what rerouting to expect.

 

Eluide Miller, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“Coming out of that meeting , one of the suggestions shared is that we should have a public consultation to share this with the wider community, share all the details of these three projects with the wider community so that they know what to expect as these are major projects that will to some extent impact their day to day navigation of the city while these projects are begin executed. So again I must give thanks to MIDH for their partnership. We are very excited about these projects. They will certainly be beneficial to the city and our residents and that remains at the forefront for us.”

 

Belama Street Dispute Awaits Government Decision

 

As Belama residents press for answers on the future of El Celaso Street, City Hall is juggling another community concern, this time tied to major infrastructure projects already in motion across Belize City. Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller says the petition over the Belama roadway is now before the Ministry of Natural Resources, even as the Council prepares to brief the wider public on major upgrades, including the replacement of the Swing Bridge and Belcan Bridge, at an upcoming town hall meant to help residents understand how the works will affect their daily routines.

 

Eluide Miller, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“A petition was submitted that was shared with us at the City. I know the Ministry of Natural Resources was looking at this case, specifically. But I will not have much of an update at this time. I will need to do some follow up and share some more information with you. I am very much familiar with the area, with the case. In fact a number of residents reached out to me pertaining to that case before the petition was submitted and so I keep in tune with the area representative in that regard. That area as I understand it was designated to be a street and some private owner got tittle to those land ahead of the 2020 elections and the residents have communicated their interest in having that area remain a street and they would like to have that street in their immediate community and we support them in that position.”

 

Miller says he’ll be following up with the ministry, noting that residents remain determined to keep El Celaso as a public street, a position City Hall fully supports.

 

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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