Highway upgrade to benefit the south

Contracts were signed last week to upgrade sections four and five on the Southern Highway. After a careful evaluation the Government of Belize awarded both contracts for the works to Cisco Construction Limited. News Five toured sections four and five.

Henry Canton, Minister of Works

“Section four, which goes from basically Punta Gorda junction to South Stann Creek Bridge which is about twenty-eight miles, is being funded by the Republic of Taiwan. We are hoping by thirty to thirty-six months that section will be completed. We are also working on section five, which is from south Stann Creek to six miles. It is roughly about nineteen to twenty miles also. That completion date is roughly the same.”

John Woods, Cisco Construction Limited

“You’ve been able to see the existing conditions of the roads and bridges that are not too secure. All the dust and when it rains, all the mud – places that get flooded. So we certainly see the need for it.”

Work will include the widening of the embankment, eight new bridges, and resurfacing. But while the present condition of the Southern Highway is in a bad state, the reconstruction will be a plus for many.

Henry Canton

“We are hoping that during the process of the construction we will generate a lot of jobs. And we will make a fair economic impact in the whole area. What will happen travelling along the road, you will notice a lot of villages on the road. Hopefully these people will have no more dust and it will improve their standard of life.”

Canton says that those transporting bananas from south Stann Creek to the Big Creek port now take three hours. He estimates that with the rehabilitation of the highway the same journey will be cut down to thirty to forty-five minutes. He also believes that upgrading of the road will help the tourism area.

Henry Canton

“I see it as impacting the tourism industry greatly, especially in the areas of Placencia, Independence, Hopkins and Seine Bight and areas like that. Because we’ll have a fully paved highway coming from Belize City to the Hummingbird all the way to Independence. Right now that is one of the big deterrence. As you know Stann Creek is coastal and has lovely beaches. Very ethnic and we have Hopkins that is extremely beautiful and the people are just waiting for more people to come in.”

Hyacinth Latchman

“It will cost fifty million dollars. But those that live around this area will be relieved after the completion of section four and section five on the Southern Highway. Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.”

The work is being jointly funded by the International Cooperation Development Fund, I.C.D.F., the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Belize.