British will fund section of Southern Highway

The project faced a number of roadblocks, notably concerns from indigenous and environmental groups, but today another piece of the Southern Highway puzzle fell into place with a formal announcement by the government of the United Kingdom. The British have agreed to fully fund the upgrading and paving of the section from Big Creek to Bladen Bridge, a distance of thirty three point five kilometers, at a cost of twenty five point five million Belize dollars. The construction, according to a release from the British High Commission, will provide greater access to education and health services for residents of Toledo and Stann Creek as well as greatly benefit the citrus and banana industries. The project is expected to take 30 months to complete. Work is currently underway, financed by a loan from Kuwait, on the Punta Gorda to Big Falls section of the highway, while the two sections between the Valley Road and Big Creek are being financed by loans from the I.D.B. and Taiwan. All that remains to complete the entire Southern Highway is to pave the section between Bladen and Big Falls. With a number of high rising rivers and creeks to cross, however, this part of the road may be the most difficult and expensive of all.