Belcan Bridge undergoes repairs
While much concern has been expressed about the state of the Belize City Swing Bridge, workmen this week were busy attending to another one of the city’s vital spans. Yesterday I took a look to see how things were progressing.
Since last November, the Belcan Bridge has been receiving some touching up. According to the projects’ Foreman, Eugene Harris although the damage is minor, if not addressed now, it would only take a couple of years for the Belcan to deteriorate as badly as its downtown sister, the Belize City Swing Bridge.
Eugene Harris, Foreman
It wasn’t that really bad, but they had to do it at the correct time, because it wasn’t all that bad to start with. Some of the members was kind of rusty and rotten away, but we changed them already.
The first phase of the work included sandblasting and painting of the bridge’s railing. Today with the work completed on top of the bridge, the workers have now moved to attack the corrosion down below. In order for the men to carry out their work effectively, a floating pontoon structure has had to be constructed. But the temporary obstruction could prove deadly to those boat operators who do not exercise caution when approaching the bridge. Today the Ministry of Works in a Press Release advised the general public to be careful whenever going over or under the Belcan Bridge.
Eugene Harris
We got some little ups and downs now and again, but it worked out correct afterwards and the only concern would be the middle of the bridge when you reach the middle of the bridge. Cause we have that pontoon cross that side where they are painting on. Cause sometimes when we reach the middle, we have to put those pontoon in the middle of the bridge. Especially the boat operators, they have to take good care.
In the meantime work on the Belcan Bridge is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks.
The Ministry of Works is looking into ways for the bridge to be restored to its original motorized operation. At present 7 men are required to make the Belcan swing.
